O'Gaughan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish name O'Gaughan has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Gaughan is Mag Eachain.

Early Origins of the O'Gaughan family

The surname O'Gaughan was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the O'Gaughan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Gaughan research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1641, 1730, 1804, 1730, 1747 and 1761 are included under the topic Early O'Gaughan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Gaughan 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'Gaughan were encountered in the archives: Gahan, Gaghan, Gagham, Getham, Gaham, Gahame and others.

Early Notables of the O'Gaughan family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name at this time was William Gahan (1730-1804), Irish ecclesiastic and author, born in Dublin in June 1730. He was of a Leinster sept, the original name of which was O'Gaoithin, anglicised Gahan. He was educated at Dublin, became a member of the Augustinian order there, and in 1747 entered the Catholic university of Louvain, where he studied for eleven...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Gaughan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Gaughan family

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name O'Gaughan: John Gahan who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773; followed by James in 1842; another John in 1856; and Patrick in 1867; William Gahan settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1818..

The O'Gaughan 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: Dum spiro spero
Motto Translation: While I have breath I hope.