A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Agar family of Ireland.
Reg. 6123 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a lion ramp. or”
KilkennyGowran Castle · Kilkenny, c. 1645
Where the Agar Arms Were Recorded
Kilkenny
Map of Ireland showing where the Agar arms are recorded
The Agar arms were recorded in Kilkenny, c. 1645.
Kilkenny was rich farming country in south-eastern Ireland, held by Norman families who settled early and stayed. Long holding of good land is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Agar arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kilkenny.
Origin & History of the Agar Family in Ireland
The family name Agar has deep roots in Ireland, particularly within County Kilkenny, where members of the family were established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is believed to be of Anglo-Norman origin, likely arriving in Ireland during the periods of migration and settlement that followed the arrival of the Normans in the twelfth century. By 1645, the Agars were well-integrated into the social and economic landscape of Kilkenny, where they became prominent landowners and active participants in local administration. Over the following decades, the family expanded their influence through strategic marriages and involvement in regional politics. Their presence in the region during this turbulent era of Irish history suggests that they were a family of significant standing who helped shape the development of the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ager
Derived from the Latin word for a field or cultivated land.
This name
AgarAn occupational name for a person who worked on or lived near a field.
also spelled
Agarr
Agare
Agard
Ager
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Burke, John. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland. 1836
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Kilkenny. 1654
O'Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1892
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
