O'Conaghan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Conaghan

The O'Conaghan surname comes from a proud and ancient past. The name O'Conaghan appeared originally in Gaelic as Ó Connachtain. 1

Early Origins of the O'Conaghan family

Early History of the O'Conaghan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Conaghan research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Conaghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Conaghan 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 O'Conaghan were encountered in the archives: Cunigan, Conigan, Cunnigan, Conaghan, Conaughan, O'Cunigan, O'Conaghan, Connaghan, Connaughan, Kinneghan, Kinnegan and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Conaghan family

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

Migration of the O'Conaghan family

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the O'Conaghan family came to North America quite early: Bernard, Hugh, James, and Michael Conaghan, Cornelius, Edward, Hugh, and William Conahan, Cormack and John Connaghan, Patrick Connahan, and Henry Coninghan, arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1865.