Higgans Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Higgans originally appeared in Gaelic as O huigin, which is derived from the word uiging, which is akin to the Norse word viking.

Higgans Early Origins

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The surname Higgans was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. This distinguished Irish Clann was a branch of the O'Neills, said to descend from a grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the 4th century High King of Ireland and founder of the Uí Neill Clan.

Higgans Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name Higgans were encountered in the archives: Higgins, Higgin, O'Higgin, Higgans, Higgens and many more.

Higgans Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Higgans research. Another 289 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1501, 1595, 1720, 1578, 1659, 1624, 1691, 1659, 1661, 1679, 1670, 1735, 1720, 1801, 1796 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Higgans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Higgans Early Notables (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Shean Duff O'Higgins (17th century), Lord of Ballynary, Sligo; Theophilus Higgons (c.1578-1659), an English divine and convert to Catholicism; Sir Thomas Higgons (c 1624-1691), an English diplomat and politician, Member of Parliament for Malmesbury in 1659, and Windsor (1661-1679); Bevil Higgons (1670-1735), an...

Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Higgans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Higgans Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Patrick Higgans, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm
Rose Higgans, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm
Thomas Higgans, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm

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: Pro patria
Motto Translation: For my country

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Citations

^ State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm

Other References

Woodham-Smith, Cecil. The Great Hunger Ireland 1845-1849. New York: Old Town Books, 1962. Print. (ISBN 0-88029-385-3).
Bullock, L.G. Historical Map of Ireland. Edinburgh: Bartholomew and Son, 1969. Print.
MacLysaght, Edward. Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7).
McDonnell, Frances. Emigrants from Ireland to America 1735-1743 A Transcription of the report of the Irish House of Commons into Enforced emigration to America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-1331-5).
Burke, Sir Bernard. General Armory Of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Ramsbury: Heraldry Today. Print.
Read, Charles Anderson. The Cabinet of Irish Literature Selections from the Works of the Chief Poets, Orators and Prose Writers of Ireland 4 Volumes. London: Blackie and Son, 1884. Print.
Kennedy, Patrick. Kennedy's Book of Arms. Canterbury: Achievements, 1967. Print.
Chadwick, Nora Kershaw and J.X.W.P Corcoran. The Celts. London: Penguin, 1970. Print. (ISBN 0140212116).
MacLysaght, Edward. Mores Irish Familes. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0).
Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston Texas 1896-1951. National Archives Washington DC. Print.
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The Higgans Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Higgans Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 17 January 2014 at 14:27.