Show ContentsHaggett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strongbownians added their own naming traditions to the eastern region of Ireland to which they arrived. The impact of this new tradition was not extremely disruptive to the pre-existing Irish tradition because the two had many similarities. Both cultures made significant use of hereditary surnames. And like the Irish, the Strongbownians often used prefixes to build patronymic surnames, which are names based on the given name of the initial bearer's father or another older relative. Strongbow's followers often created names that were built with the prefix Fitz-, which was derived from the French word fils, and ultimately from the Latin filius, both of which mean son. They also used diminutive suffixes such as -ot, -et, -un, -in, or -el, and occasionally even two suffixes combined to form a double diminutive such as -el-in, -el-ot, -in-ot, and -et-in, to build patronymic names. The surname Haggett is derived from the medieval given names Hack or Hake. These English names were derived from the Old Norse name Haki, which is a cognate of the English name Hook and was originally given to someone with a hunched figure or a hooked nose. Before being imported to Ireland, the surname Haggett was chiefly popular in the western midlands of England. The Gaelic form of the name Haggett is Haicéid.

Early Origins of the Haggett family

The surname Haggett was first found in County Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where they had been granted lands by Strongbow for their assistance in the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

They were also granted lands in counties Carlow, Kildare and one branch moved into Connacht where "they formed a distinct if small sept which was known as MacHackett, their seat being Castle Hackett, six miles south-east of Tuam." 1

They were originally from Harcourt in Normandy and their name appears on the Honour Roll of the Battell Abbey as being present at the Battle of Hastings. "The Hackets of Niton on the Isle of Wight were descendants of Haket on the Battle Abbey Roll. The eventual heiress, Agnes, dau. of John Hackett, Esq. of Niton, m. John Lye, Esq., of Dorsetshire, and was mother of Anne Lye, wife of Sir James Woraley, constable of Carisbrook Castle." 2

"Dominus Paganus de Haket, another soldier at Hastings accompanied Henry II to Ireland where he acquired broad lands and seigneuries there; and his descendants, generation after generation, were parliamentary Barons, and potent Magnates in the sister kingdom. "2

Early History of the Haggett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haggett research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1195, 1559, 1566, 1592, 1601, 1621, 1625, 1626, 1670, 1676, 1689 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Haggett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haggett Spelling Variations

It was found during an investigation of the origins of the name Haggett that church officials and medieval scribes often spelled the name as it sounded. This practice lead to a single person's being documented under many spelling variations. The name Haggett has existed in the various shapes: Hackett, Hackert, Hacket, Halkett and others.

Early Notables of the Haggett family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

  • Peter Hackett, Archbishop of Cashell; John-Baptist Hackett (Hacket, Hacquet, Hecquet) (died 1676), Irish theologian born at Fethard, County Tipperary; and Humphrey Haggett (born 1601), an English poli...


Haggett migration to the United States +

In the 1840s, Ireland experienced a mass exodus to North America due to the Great Potato Famine. These families wanted to escape from hunger and disease that was ravaging their homeland. With the promise of work, freedom and land overseas, the Irish looked upon British North America and the United States as a means of hope and prosperity. Those that survived the journey were able to achieve this through much hard work and perseverance. Early immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Haggett:

Haggett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Edmund Haggett, aged 30, who landed in America from London, England, in 1913
  • Hilden Kristina Haggett, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1913
  • Walter W. Haggett, aged 36, who landed in America, in 1919
  • William Haggett, aged 25, who immigrated to America, in 1919
  • James Haggett, aged 20, who settled in America, in 1920
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Haggett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Haggett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Frederick Haggett, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 3
  • Frederick Haggett, aged 24, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 3

Haggett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Haggett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Ernest Haggett, (b. 1864), aged 8 months, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 4
  • Mr. Daniel Haggett, (b. 1830), aged 34, British compositor travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 4
  • Mrs. Emma Haggett, (b. 1832), aged 32, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 4
  • Mr. William D. Haggett, (b. 1857), aged 7, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 4
  • Miss Emma Haggett, (b. 1862), aged 2, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 6th September 1864 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Haggett (post 1700) +

  • Harold B. Haggett, American Republican politician, Elected New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Belmont 1956 5
  • Albert A. Haggett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1876; Postmaster at Lowell, Massachusetts, 1885-90 5
  • Peter Haggett CBE Sc.D. FBA (b. 1933), eminent British geographer and academic, Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Fellow in Urban and Regional Geography at the University of Bristol
  • Calum John Haggett (b. 1990), English cricketer who plays for Kent County Cricket Club
  • Reginald "Reg" Haggett, former New Zealand association football player
  • Belinda Jane Haggett (b. 1962), former New South Wales Breakers and Australia cricketer
  • Robert Haggett, British record producer, songwriter and mix engineer


The Haggett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Spes mea Deus
Motto Translation: God is my hope.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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