Recorded in a wide variety of spellings including Carrigan, Courigan, Corrigan, Currigan and Carrocan, this is an Irish surname of great antiquity. Deriving from the Gaelic form of O' Corragain, the name like many Irish surnames is a form of descriptive nickname. It translates as "The descendant of the kin of Corra", the latter being an early pre 7th century baptismal name meaning "Spear". This was originally a name given to either a mighty soldier or hunter, both being equally popular in the ancient mythology of the country.
It is said that the clan or sept, as it is usually known, belongs to the same grouping as the Maguires, both have lost the "O" prefix and both are mainly associated with Ulster, at least in origin, although widely scattered, the town of Ballycorrigan being situated in County Tipperary. Indeed these two "names" probably gave the English administration of Ireland more trouble than any other, which is strange as the original nameholders were reputed to be "men of the cloth". Sadly most early Irish records were destroyed in 1622 during the Irish Civil War, when the IRA in an act of typical mindless vandalism set fire to the Public Records office in Dublin. The early surviving recordings include such eminent persons as Sir Dominic Corrigan MD, (1802 - 1880), an eminent physician in Dublin, and the Rev. Michael Corrigan (1839 - 1902) Archbishop of New York. The first known recording is beliebved to be that of Gillan O' Corragain, the abbot of Willin, county Fermanagh, in 1534.
The history of the surname carrigan is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of carrigan. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname carrigan is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname carrigan, and in addition to the original locations of carrigan, we can find out where people with the surname carrigan can currently be found.
It is common for surnames like carrigan to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname carrigan provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname carrigan has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The historical journey of the surname carrigan can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of carrigan. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname carrigan, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of carrigan developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname carrigan are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname carrigan, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about carrigan and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname carrigan or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of carrigan.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all carrigans who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname carrigan were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like carrigan can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname carrigan. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of carrigan are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname carrigan, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of carrigan, and at the same time, of surnames in general.