A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geraghty family of Ireland.
Reg. 7845 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. on a mount vert an oak tree ppr. in chief two falcons volant gu”
IrelandConnaught, c. 1645
Where the Geraghty Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Geraghty arms are recorded
The Geraghty arms were recorded in Connaught, 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 Geraghty 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 Geraghty Family in Ireland
The surname Geraghty is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Oireachtaigh, which translates to son of the member of the assembly. This name suggests that early ancestors were likely people of status or legal importance within their local communities. By the year 1645, records confirm that the family was well-established in Dublin, a period when the city was a major center for political and social transition in Ireland. During this era, families with this name were often involved in the complex land and administrative shifts occurring under the influence of English rule. Because the name is rooted in the Irish language, it reflects a history of deep connection to the Gaelic tradition even as the family adapted to the changing urban environment of seventeenth-century Dublin.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Oireachtaigh
Son of the member of the assembly or council.
This name
GeraghtyDerived from a Gaelic term denoting a person associated with a formal gathering or assembly.
also spelled
MacGeraghty
McGeraghty
Geraghty
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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