O'Groghyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Groghyn

All Irish surnames have a unique and often romantic meaning. The name O'Groghyn originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Grugain," which is derived from either "gruag," which means "hair," and "grug," which means "fierceness."

Early Origins of the O'Groghyn family

Early History of the O'Groghyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Groghyn research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early O'Groghyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Groghyn Spelling Variations

Names during the Middle Ages were often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of their bearers. Literacy was rare at that time and so how a person's name was recorded was decided by the individual scribe. Variations of the name O'Groghyn include Grogan, O'Grogan, Grogen, Groogen, Grugen, Groggan, O'Groogan and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Groghyn family

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

Migration of the O'Groghyn family

Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of O'Groghyn were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists: Alexander Grogan settled in Virginia in 1652; Charles, James, Jeremiah, John, Michael, Nathaniel Grogan, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.