Map of Ireland showing where the Duggan arms are recorded
The Duggan arms were recorded in O'Neill, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Duggan 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 Ireland.
Origin & History of the Duggan Family in Ireland
The surname Duggan originates from the ancient Gaelic name Ó Dubhagáin, which translates to descendant of the little dark one. This name emerged from the Irish province of Munster, where families often identified themselves by physical traits or personal characteristics. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the Duggan family were well-established in the city of Dublin. During this period, the city served as a major center for trade and political activity, placing the family in the heart of Irish urban life during a time of significant social change. Their presence in Dublin by 1645 suggests that the family had successfully transitioned from their rural roots to participate in the growing professional and merchant classes of the capital city.
Duggan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dubhagan
Derived from the Gaelic word dubh meaning black or dark.
This name
DugganA diminutive form signifying a little dark-complexioned or black-haired person.
also spelled
Dugenan
Duggan
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
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