Flanagan Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Flanagan Family History

Flanagan Family History

The ancient origin of the name Flanagan was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Flanagan include Flanaghan, Flanagin and O'Flanagan. Meaning 'reddish' or 'ruddy', this Irish name originated in Connacht and came from a Flanagan who was of the same stock as the O'Connors. He held the post of Steward of the Kings of Connacht. They were seated between Mantua and Elphin and were a most prominent sept. Minor septs were of Toorah, in Fermanagh, and Ballybrit in Offaly in the seventeenth century. Donough O'Flanagan, 1308, was Bishop of Elphin, and was famous abroad as well as at home for his hospitality and devotion. Descendants of these Flanagans are still to be found in the same area.The Flanagan family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Flanagan descendants.