Meakin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The surname Meakin originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Miadhachain," which is derived from the word miadhach, meaning honorable. 1

Early Origins of the Meakin family

The surname Meakin was first found in County Leitrim (Irish: Liatroim) anciently the western half of the kingdom of Breifne, located in Northeastern Ireland, in Leinster province, Originally, "Ó Miadhacháin, this is the name of at least two distinct septs; it is now equally distributed throughout the four provinces." 2

Early History of the Meakin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meakin research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Meakin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meakin Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Meakin are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Meighan, Meehan, Meegin, Meeghen, Meegan, Meakin, Meakins, Mekins, Mehan, Mehen, Mehigan, Mehegan, O'Meighan, O'Meehan and many more.

Early Notables of the Meakin family

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

Meakin migration to the United States +

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Meakin or a variant listed above:

Meakin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Meakin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 3

Meakin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Budgett Meakin, aged 37, who settled in America from London, in 1903
Harry Meakin, aged 26, who landed in America from Nottingham, in 1905
Gertrude Meakin, aged 34, who landed in America from Stockport, England, in 1907
James Meakin, aged 25, who settled in America from Chorley, England, in 1907
Edith Meakin, aged 35, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, England, in 1907
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meakin 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:

Meakin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ann C. Meakin, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Seringapatam" in 1856

Contemporary Notables of the name Meakin (post 1700) +

Lewis Henry Meakin (1850-1917), American Impressionist landscape artist
Stanley Meakin (b. 1860), former English professional footballer
Joan Meakin (1910-1977), English first female glider pilot to fly over the English Channel
Peter Meakin, Australian journalist
Breanne Meakin (b. 1990), Canadian gold and two-time silver medalist curler
Harry Meakin (b. 1919), English footballer
Alfred Meakin (b. 1938), British retired track and field athlete

Historic Events for the Meakin family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Harry Meakin (b. 1912), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Maidstone, Kent, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 4

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm