A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Glennan family of Ireland.
Reg. 4965 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Gyronny of eight or and ar. four mullets pierced sa”
MayoTyrawley · Mayo, c. 1645
Where the Glennan Arms Were Recorded
Mayo
Map of Ireland showing where the Glennan arms are recorded
The Glennan arms were recorded in Mayo, c. 1645.
Mayo was poor western Irish country of bog and mountain, held by a small number of old families. Land changed hands rarely there, and families who held on appear 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.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Glennan 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 Mayo.
Origin & History of the Glennan Family in Ireland
The family name Glennan is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of County Mayo, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1645. The name is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Fhionnáin, which translates to the son of the follower of Saint Finnian. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often lived in tight-knit rural communities that relied on cattle farming and small-scale agriculture to survive. The political instability of the 1640s, marked by the Irish Confederate Wars, forced many families to adapt to changing land ownership and shifting local power structures. By remaining in Mayo during this turbulent era, the early members of the Glennan family helped preserve their cultural identity and linguistic heritage despite the pressures of colonial expansion.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gleann
A valley or narrow dale between mountains.
This name
GlennanDerived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Gleannáin, signifying a descendant of the valley dweller.
also spelled
Glennan
Glinnon
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
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of 1654-1656
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
