Show ContentsHeartegant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely over time. The original Gaelic form of the name Heartegant is Ó hArtigain, which connotes a descendant of Art. [1]

Early Origins of the Heartegant family

The surname Heartegant was first found in counties Clare and Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times. [2]

One of the first records of the family was of Cineth O'Hartigan (died 975), an Irish poet from the north of Ireland, perhaps best known for his "Dinnsenchus," a work which relates the legendary history of the duns, lakes, plains and mountains of Ireland. It gives a prose account of each place, followed by an account in verse. [3]

Early History of the Heartegant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heartegant research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heartegant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heartegant Spelling Variations

The scribes who created documents long before either the Gaelic or English language resembled their standardized versions of today recorded words as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages the names of many people were recorded under different spellings each time they were written down. Research on the Heartegant family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Hartigan, O'Hartigan, Hartagan, Hartegan, Hartigon, Hartagon and many more.

Early Notables of the Heartegant family

More information is included under the topic Early Heartegant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heartegant family

Many Irish families boarded ships bound for North America in the middle of 19th century to escape the conditions of poverty and racial discrimination . Although these immigrants often arrived in a destitute state, they went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. An inquiry into many immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants to North America bearing the Heartegant family name: James, Michael, Patrick and Thomas Hartigan arrived in Canada in 1839; Michael Hartigan arrived in Baltimore with his wife and five children in 1820. In Newfoundland, Denis settled in St. John's in 1804.



  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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