Ratigen Surname History

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Ratigen

What does the name Ratigen mean?

Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. The original Gaelic form of the name Ratigen is Ó Reachtagain, which is derived from the word "reacht," which means "decree."

Early Origins of the Ratigen family

The surname Ratigen was first found in Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where their recorded history precedes the 12th century. They are said to be descended from Iomchadh, Prince of Tara, second son of King Colla da Chrioch, down to O'Kelly, Prince of Hy-Maine in Roscommon.

Early History of the Ratigen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ratigen research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ratigen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ratigen 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 Ratigen were encountered in the archives: Ratigan, Rattigan, Rhatigan, Ractigan, Rattican, Rhattigan, O'Rattigan, O'Ratigan, McRattigan, McRatigan, McRhatagan, Rattigen, Ratigen, Ratrigan, Rattrigan, Rattigin, Ratigin, Rattighan and many more.

Early Notables of the Ratigen family

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

Migration of the Ratigen 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 Ratigen family came to North America quite early: Mary Rattigan who was listed as having arrived in Nova Scotia in 1825; Peter Ratigan arrived in Quebec in 1826; Daniel, Mary, Patt and Peter Rattigan all of whom were recorded as having arrived in New York, New York in 1850.