Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. on a chev. gu. two lions ramp. or”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flanegan family of Ireland.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. on a chev. gu. two lions ramp. or”
The Flanegan 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 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.
The surname Flanegan is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Flannagáin, which translates to descendant of the red one. This name points to an ancestor who likely had a ruddy complexion or red hair. By the year 1645, the family was well established in County Roscommon, where they held significant status within the local Gaelic social structure. During this period, the family was deeply connected to the political and territorial landscape of Connacht. They were part of a complex system of clans that governed the region before the major land upheavals of the seventeenth century. As the family navigated this era, they maintained strong ties to their ancestral lands, which helped preserve their identity throughout the turbulent history of Ireland.
An ancient Gaelic term referring to a deep red or blood color.
