A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanrahan family of Ireland.
Reg. 9623 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. a lizard pass. in fess or, in chief a trefoil slipped betw. two holly leaves ar. in base a garb of the second”
TipperaryTipperary, c. 1645
Where the Hanrahan Arms Were Recorded
Tipperary
Map of Ireland showing where the Hanrahan arms are recorded
The Hanrahan arms were recorded in Tipperary, c. 1645.
Tipperary was the best grazing land in Ireland, held by a small number of powerful families. Land of that value stayed in the same hands, and unbroken holding is what puts a name 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 Hanrahan 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 Tipperary.
Origin & History of the Hanrahan Family in Ireland
The surname Hanrahan originates from the Irish Gaelic name Ó hAnracháin, which translates to descendant of Anrachán. This personal name is thought to be a diminutive form of the word for a wanderer or a warrior. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family was well-established in County Tipperary, particularly around the areas of Cashel and Emly. During this period, the family lived through the turbulent years of the Irish Confederate Wars, which saw significant shifts in land ownership and social structure across the region. As members of the Gaelic professional class, they were deeply rooted in the local landscape and maintained strong ties to their ancestral lands despite the political pressures of the time. Their presence in Tipperary during the 1640s reflects a long history of resilience and local influence that helped define their identity in the province of Munster.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ó hAnradháin
Descendant of the storm or tempest
This name
HanrahanDerived from a Gaelic personal name signifying a descendant of a storm-like warrior.
also spelled
Hanraghan
Hanrahan
Hanragan
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 Ireland, 1654–1656
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
