| ![Show Contents]() Plunkidd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Irish already had a system for creating hereditary surnames established when the followers of Strongbow settled in eastern Ireland. Although there was relatively little friction between the two systems because they operated according to very similar principles, the Strongbownians frequently used local surnames. In Ireland, local surnames were almost unheard of, but in England they were probably the most common form of hereditary surname. Local surnames, such as Plunkidd, were taken from the name of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. The surname Plunkidd is derived from living in the settlement of Plouquenet in Ille-et-Vilaine in France. The surname Plunkidd belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Some sources indicated that the surname Plunkidd is a corruption of the Old French word blanchet, which means white. The Gaelic form of the surname Plunkidd is Pluincéid. Early Origins of the Plunkidd familyThe surname Plunkidd was first found in County Louth (Irish: Lú) the smallest county in Ireland, located on the East coast, in the Province of Leinster, where they were granted lands when they accompanied Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in the invasion of Ireland. "Little of certainty is to be gathered concerning this name before its appearance in Ireland. So early, however, as the 11th century, we find John Plukenet seated at Beaulieu, co. Meath: and from him springs the distinguished Irish families of the name, ennobled under the titles of Fingall Dunsany, and Louth." 1 "A nephew of Lord Plugenet [in England] founded the family still existing in Ireland, though their pedigree declares that they are of Danish origin, and were seated at Bewley (Beaulieu) in co. Louth as early as the eleventh century. " 2 Richard Plunkett (c.1340-1393) was an eminent Irish jurist and statesman who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His descendants held the titles Baron Dunsany, Baron Killeen and Earl of Fingall. "The younger branch was the more distinguished of the two. 'These 'Plunkets in Ireland,' says Camden, ' have been very eminent ever since Christopher Plunket (a person of great valour and wisdom who was deputy to Richard Duke of York, Viceroy in Henry VI. time) was raised to the dignity of Baron of Killin, which came to him by his wife, as heir to the family of the Cusacks.' Sir Christopher was Sheriff of Meath prior to 1442, and had married the only child of Sir Lucas de Cusack, Lord of Killeen, Dunsany, and Gerardstown in that county. All his three sons founded families. The eldest was the ancestor of the Earls of Fingall ; the second, Sir Christopher, was the first Lord Dunsany ; and the third, Sir Thomas, had to wife the heiress of Rathmore, which remained the home of his descendants. His son Sir Alexander 'a person of great account,' was appointed Chancellor of Ireland in 1492." 2 Early History of the Plunkidd familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Plunkidd research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1182, 1410, 1440, 1445, 1461, 1463, 1492, 1503, 1519, 1555, 1602, 1629, 1644, 1649, 1668, 1680, 1681 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Plunkidd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Plunkidd Spelling VariationsChurch officials and medieval scribes often spelled early surnames as they sounded. This practice often resulted in many spelling variations of even a single name. Early versions of the name Plunkidd included: Plunkett, Plunket, Plunkitt, Plunkit, Plunked, Plunkedd, Plunkidd and many more. Early Notables of the Plunkidd familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was Sir Christopher Plunkett, 1st Baron of Dunsany (1410-1463); Sir Thomas Plunket (c.1440-1519), a wealthy Irish landowner, lawyer and jurist, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas; Alexander Plunket (died 1503), appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland by King Henry VII of England in 1492; Oliver Plunkett, 1st Baron Louth (d. c. 1555), an Irish peer; and Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall (died 1649).Patrick Plunket (died 1668), was 9th Baron of Dunsany, co. Meath. An ancestor, Sir Christopher Plunket (d. 1445), was active in the Irish...
Another 109 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Plunkidd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Plunkidd familyIreland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Plunkidd: James Plunkett, who came to Virginia in 1655; Oliver Plunket, who settled in Wilmington N.C. in 1804; James, Bernard, John, Patrick, Phillip, Thomas Plunket, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.
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: Festina lente
Motto Translation: Be quick without impetuosity.
- Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
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Ireland
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