Map of Ireland showing where the Egan arms are recorded
The Egan arms were recorded in Ireland, 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 Egan 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 Egan Family in Ireland
The surname Egan is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Aodhagáin, which translates to son of Aodhagán. The root of this name comes from Aodh, a traditional Irish word meaning fire. Historically, the family was highly respected as a learned clan of hereditary lawyers, poets, and historians who served the kings of Munster. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a significant presence in Dublin. Records from 1645 show members of the family living in the city during a time of great political upheaval in Ireland. As the influence of the old Gaelic order faded, many members of the family moved into urban centers like Dublin to continue their work in law and administration. This transition allowed the family to maintain their status as educated professionals even as the traditional structures of Irish society underwent massive changes.
Egan Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Aodh
An ancient Gaelic word meaning fire or a fiery one.
This name
EganA descendant of the fiery one, representing a person of intense spirit.
also spelled
Eganne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames. 1923
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Dublin. 1654–1656
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
