A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Finnegan family of Ireland.
Reg. 5299 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
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 counterramp. ar. supporting a wavy sword ppr. the hilt downwards or, on a chief of the second three garbs of the first”
ClareClare, c. 1815
Where the Finnegan Arms Were Recorded
Clare
Map of Ireland showing where the Finnegan arms are recorded
The Finnegan arms were recorded in Clare, c. 1815.
Clare was rocky western Irish country, poor in farmland but held tightly by a few old families. Land there changed hands rarely, and families who stayed put ended up in the 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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Ireland when the Finnegan 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 Clare.
Origin & History of the Finnegan Family in Ireland
The surname Finnegan is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Fionnagáin, which translates to a descendant of the fair or white one. The family roots are deeply embedded in the west of Ireland, particularly within County Clare, where members were well-established by the early nineteenth century. During this period, the Finnegans were typically part of the rural farming population, living through a time of significant social and economic change in the Irish countryside. As a sept of the Dál gCais tribal grouping, the family shared a long history with the regional power structures of Thomond. By 1815, families like the Finnegans were navigating the challenges of tenant farming and local community life, maintaining their presence in the landscape of Clare long before the Great Famine transformed the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fionn
An ancient Gaelic word meaning fair, white, or bright.
This name
FinneganA diminutive form meaning descendant of the fair or handsome one.
also spelled
Finuccan
Finnegan
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, Tithe Applotment Books, 1823–1837
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
