A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meagher family of Britain.
Reg. 1061 · Britain, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à deux lions affr. d'or, supp. une épée d'arg., en pal. C.: un faucon ess. au nat.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Meagher Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Meagher arms are recorded
The Meagher arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of arms.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Meagher arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Britain.
Origin & History of the Meagher Family in Britain
The surname Meagher originates from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Meachair, which translates to mean hospitable or generous. Historically, the family belonged to the Cenél Fhathaidh, a branch of the Eóganachta dynasty, and they held significant power as lords of a territory known as Ikerrin in what is now County Tipperary. By the turn of the eighteenth century, members of the family had migrated to England, establishing a presence in Kent by 1700. This movement was likely part of a broader trend of Irish families relocating to Britain for trade, military service, or employment during a period of intense political and social change. Over time, the name evolved from its original Gaelic form into the anglicized spelling commonly recognized today, reflecting the family’s transition into new regions while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Meachair
An Irish Gaelic term meaning hospitable or kind.
This name
MeagherA surname derived from an epithet describing a person who is generous, kind, or hospitable.
also spelled
O'Meagher
Meagher
Omeer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
The National Archives (UK), Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swordJustice, and military honour
