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)“Az. a griffin pass. wings elevated or”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanratty 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)“Az. a griffin pass. wings elevated or”
The Hanratty arms were recorded in Monaghan, c. 1645.
Monaghan was drumlin country on the southern edge of Ulster. Old Irish families held it before the plantations and settlers after, and both sorts took arms as landowners.
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 Hanratty originates from the Irish Gaelic name Ó hAnrachtaigh, which translates to a descendant of Anrachtach. This personal name is derived from the word anracht, meaning indignation or fury. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was firmly established in County Monaghan, a region in the province of Ulster. Records from 1645 confirm their presence in this area during a period of significant political and social upheaval in Ireland. As a sept of the Oriel territory, the Hanrattys were part of a complex social structure that defined life in the north of Ireland for generations. Over time, the family became deeply rooted in the local landscape of Monaghan, where they maintained their presence despite the many historical shifts that transformed the region throughout the following centuries.
Descendant of Anrachtach, meaning one who is fierce or impulsive.
