O'Ronan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of O'Ronan

What does the name O'Ronan mean?

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the O'Ronan family in Ireland was Ó Ronain, which means descendant of Ronan. The popular personal name Ronan may derive from the word ron, which means a seal.

Early Origins of the O'Ronan family

The surname O'Ronan was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. John Ronayne is recorded in the County of Cork in the year 1139. The name is from the old Gaelic O'Roynian and they were apparently an old Munster family until the Anglo/Norman invasion of 1172, when their lands were forfeited and the family dispersed.

Early History of the O'Ronan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Ronan research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1139 and 1684 are included under the topic Early O'Ronan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Ronan Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname O'Ronan were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Ronane, Ronayne, O'Ronayne, O'Ronan, Roonane, O'Roonane, Roonan, O'Roonan and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Ronan family

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

Migration of the O'Ronan family

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the O'Ronan family in North America: George Ronan who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1872; James Ronan settled in Philadelphia in 1836; John Ronan settled in Canada in 1840; Patrick Ronan settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1849.

The O'Ronan 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: Ipse fecit nos
Motto Translation: For he is our maker.