Show ContentsNeligan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish form of the surname Neligan is Ó Niallagain, from the Christian name Niall.

Early Origins of the Neligan family

The surname Neligan was first found in south Leinster, where in 1315, Richard Nelgan, a follower of the Kavanaghs, was an interpreter between Richard II and the Irish chiefs. In the city of Kilkenny, John Neligan was a merchant and Nicholas Neligan a householder. Ballynelligan, named for the family, is near Lismore, County Waterford.

Early History of the Neligan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Neligan research. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1815 and 1863 are included under the topic Early Neligan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Neligan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Neligan, O'Neligan, Nelligan and others.

Early Notables of the Neligan family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • John Moore Neligan (1815-1863), a physician who wrote a standard book on medicines


United States Neligan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Neligan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Neligan, who was naturalized in Missouri in 1840
  • John Neligan, aged 36, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 1
  • William Neligan, who was naturalized in Pennsylvania in 1848

Contemporary Notables of the name Neligan (post 1700) +

  • David Neligan (1899-1983), better known as "The Spy in the Castle" in the Irish War of Independence 1919-1921
  • Maurice Neligan (1937-2010), Irish heart surgeon, activist, newspaper columnist and media commentator, performed Ireland's first heart transplant
  • Rev. Moore Richard Neligan (1863-1922), noted Irish-born Anglican bishop
  • Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Neligan (1886-1923), British-born Australian soldier, recipient of the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, a Distinguished Service Order & Bar, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and five Mention in Dispatches


  1. 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)


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