A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hartigan family of Ireland.
Reg. 8835 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a lion ramp. ar. brandishing betw. the forepaws a sword ppr”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Hartigan Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Hartigan arms are recorded
The Hartigan arms were recorded in Ireland, 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 Hartigan 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 Hartigan Family in Ireland
The surname Hartigan is a Gaelic Irish name that originated from the ancient kingdom of Thomond, which covered parts of modern-day County Clare and County Limerick. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "Ó hArtagáin," which translates to a descendant of Artagán, a personal name meaning little bear. While the family roots are firmly planted in the west of Ireland, records confirm that members of the Hartigan family were established in Dublin by 1645. During this period, the family was navigating a time of great political upheaval in Ireland, often serving as landowners or professionals within the urban centers. As they moved from their ancestral lands into the capital city, the family maintained their identity while adapting to the changing social and economic landscape of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
O hArtagain
Descendant of Artagan, a diminutive of the name Art meaning bear.
This name
HartiganDerived from the Gaelic term for a descendant of a bear-like warrior or hero.
also spelled
Hartigen
Related arms
O'Hartaganvariant spelling
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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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
