The Irish name Slahan has evolved from the Gaelic Mac Braoin or O Braoin.
Early Origins of the Slahan family
The surname Slahan was first found in County
Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern
Ireland in the province of
Leinster, where the family is descended through the
Heremon line and claim to be direct descendants of King Niall of the Nine Hostages. They were known as the Lords of Brawney
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4) and were an
Ossory sept (Clann) seated near Knocktopher,
Kilkenny, until they had to forfeit their lands by the Anglo
Norman invasion of
Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke in 1172. They were subsequently dispersed throughout Ireland.
Early History of the Slahan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slahan research.
Another 369 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1303, 1324, 1560 and 1625 are included under the topic Early Slahan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Slahan Spelling Variations
Before widespread literacy came to
Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous
spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Slahan family name. Variations found include Breen, Breene, Brean, Breane, Bruen, Brawney, O'Breen, O'Braoin and many more.
Early Notables of the Slahan family (pre 1700)
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Slahan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Slahan family to the New World and Oceana
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 Slahan family in North America: Francis Breen, who was on record in Delaware in 1812; John Breene who settled in New York in 1803; Alice Breen, who sailed from
Londonderry to Philadelphia in 1847.
The Slahan 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: Comnac an Ceane
Motto Translation: Fight for Right