Gorghan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Gorghan is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived at Gorhambury located in the county of Hertfordshire.

Early Origins of the Gorghan family

The surname Gorghan was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. One of the first noteworthy people of the name Gorham was Geoffrey de Gorham, sometimes called Geoffrey of Dunstable or (of Le Mans) who died at St. Alban's, 26 February 1146. He was a Norman scholar who became Abbot of St Albans Abbey from 1119 to 1146. He was from the province of Maine, in the Dukedom of Normandy and was invited by Richard d'Aubeney, Abbot of St. Alban's, to become master of the Abbey school.

Early History of the Gorghan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gorghan research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1776 is included under the topic Early Gorghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorghan Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Gorghan are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Gorghan include: Goreham, Gorham and others.

Early Notables of the Gorghan family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gorghan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gorghan family to Ireland

Some of the Gorghan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gorghan family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Gorghan or a variant listed above: John Gorham who settled in Virginia in 1635; another John settled in Boston in 1630; Ralph Gorham settled in New England in 1630; Thomas Gorham settled in Virginia in 1635..