A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Finegan family of Ireland.
Reg. 7275 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. two lions ramp. combatant ar. supporting a sword in pale, blade wavy, point upwards ppr”
RoscommonHy Maine · Roscommon, c. 1645
Where the Finegan Arms Were Recorded
Roscommon
Map of Ireland showing where the Finegan arms are recorded
The Finegan arms were recorded in Roscommon, c. 1645.
Roscommon was midland Irish grazing country, held by old Irish families before the plantations and by settlers after. Both sorts held land, and holding land is what brought arms.
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 Finegan 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 Roscommon.
Origin & History of the Finegan Family in Ireland
The surname Finegan originates from the Gaelic name Ó Fionnagáin, which translates to a descendant of Fionnagán. This personal name is a diminutive form of the word fionn, meaning fair or white. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in County Roscommon, a region in the west of Ireland known for its rich history and deep connection to ancient Gaelic clans. During this period, the Finegans were part of the local social fabric, living through a time of significant political upheaval and land redistribution in Ireland. As a family rooted in the province of Connacht, they maintained their cultural identity despite the changing laws and social structures of the time. Their presence in Roscommon by 1645 reflects a long-standing history of the name within the Irish landscape, marking them as a family deeply connected to the traditions and geography of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fionnagáin
Derived from the Gaelic word for fair or white.
This name
FineganA diminutive form referring to a fair-haired or white-complexioned person.
also spelled
Finnegan
Finegan
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
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of County Roscommon, 1654–1656
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
