Coats of Arms
McGeough (Walter McGeough,
Drumsill, Co. Armagh, 1824) Arms: Per bend sable and or three leopards' faces counterchanged Crest: A naked arm embowed the hand holding a scymitar all proper. This person also took the additional surname Bond and quartered this coat of arms with that of Bond. Coat of Arms were never issued to families but instead to individuals. There are many sites explaining the history of Coat of Arms and their misuse. One of the best sites to visit concerning this is College of Arms. This is the official site of the College of Arms in the U.K. To obtain a Coat of Arms one must prove direct relationship to an ancestor who had the right to display Arms. The above coat of arms was issued as above according to Eddie Geoghegan. I paid for a search on the McGough name and this is the information Eddie Geoghegan provided me concerning the Coat of Arms shown above.
McGeough (Walter McGeough,
Drumsill, Co. Armagh, 1824) Arms: Per bend sable and or three leopards' faces counterchanged Crest: A naked arm embowed the hand holding a scymitar all proper. This person also took the additional surname Bond and quartered this coat of arms with that of Bond.
Gough (Garrett Gough, settled in Ireland in 1530) Arms: Azure a chevron between two fleurs-de-lis in chief and a lion rampant in base or. Crest: A wyvern tail nowed proper. Mott:
None recorded. These arms were also borne by Gough of Kilmanahan, Co. Waterford, 1717 and Clement Gough of Ballyorley, Co. Wexford, reign of William III.
Gough (George Gough Esq. Of Woodstown, Co. Limerick;
descended from Right Rev. Francis Gough, Bishop of Limerick, granted 1816) Arms: Azure on a fess argent between three boats' heads couped or a lion passant gules. Crest: A boar's head couped at the neck or tusked argent.
Motto: Gradu diserso via uno.
Goff (Thomas William Goff of Oakport, Co. Roscommon, M.P. for that county 1859) Arms: Azure on a chevron between two fleurs-de-lis in chief and a demi lion rampant in base or, an annulet gules. Crest: a squirrel sejant proper charged on the shoulder with a fleur-de-list or and holding a nut also proper. Motto: Honesta optima politia.
Goghe (Registered with the Office of Ulster King at Arms) Arms:
Gules a chevron ermine between three plates each chraged with a fleur-de-lis azure on a chief argent a demi lion naissant of the field between two anchors of the third.
Goghe or Gough (Sir James Goghe,
knighted 29 Sept 1603) Arms: Azure a chevron between two fleurs-de-lis in chief and a lion rampant in base or.
Goghe (no further information recorded)
Arms: Azure a boar argent.
Ireland was on of the earliest countries to evolve a system of hereditary surnames. They came into being fairly generally in the eleventh century, though some were formed as early as the year 1000. Brian Boru, high king of Ireland, who died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, is often erroneously credited with decreeing that the use of surnames should become a requirement among his subjects. In fact the system developed spontaneously in Ireland, as it did elsewhere, as a result of the need for personal identification in an increasing population. Prior to the adoption of surnames, the Irish had a system of tribal grouping that went under formal names. These included, among others, Cenel Conaill, located in The northeast and traditionally descended from Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Cenel Eoghain, located in Tyrone and Derry and traditionally descended from Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Dal gCais or Dalcassians, descendants of Cas and located in Thomond - counties Clare and parts of Limerick and Tipperary. Eoghanacht, cantered in south Munster and descended from Eoghan, son of Oilioll Olum, King of Munster. Siol Muireadhaigh or Silmurray, located in north Connacht. Ui Fiachrach, two groups, Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe, located in north Mayo and Sligo and Ui Fiachrach Aidhne in south Galway. Ui Maine or Hy Many, located in east Galway and South Roscommon. These groups were often parts of others and also subdivided so the situation is not as simple as it might seem. For example, Ui Neill or Ua Neill was a collective name for all the descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages. It included the northern Ui Neill (which in turn included Cenel Conaill and Cenel Eoghain) and the southern Ui Neill (which in turn included Cenel Fiacha and others). The existence of these named groups indicates a predisposition among the ancient Irish towards family grouping and naming and so it is not surprising that the development of personal and hereditary surnames was little more than a natural extension of this tribal system. Prior to the coming of surnames, individuals were identified by means of a personal name, sometimes with the addition of a nickname referring to some deed or physical attribute, for example Con Cead Cathach (Con of the hundred battles), Feargal Ruadh (red haired Fergal), Roisin Dubh (dark haired Rose) and so on. The people of the time must have also used patronymics, Eoin Mac Brian (John son of Brian), etc., but names were not hereditary, for instance, Eamonn, the son of Eoin Mac Brian, would be known as Eamonn Mac Eoin (son of John) rather than Eamonn Mac Brian (Brian). However, as surnames gradually became hereditary, these patronymics remained constant from one generation to the next. Patronymics form the great majority of Gaelic-Irish surnames. They are formed by adding the prefix "Mac" or "O" to the personal name of an ancestor. "Mac" literally means "son" and "O" means grandson, but in surnames, both are usually taken to signify "descendant of" rather than their literal meaning. The great Irish patronymics give us quite an insight into the popular personal names of the day, Neill, Connor, Murchadh (hence Murphy), Aodh or Hugh (hence McKay, McHugh, O'Hea, etc.), Conall, etc. I should mention that the use of the form Mac, Mc, M', Mag, etc. is of no significance. All are simply variants of the Gaelic word "mac". I should also mention that these prefixes are gender sensitive, Mac and O being masculine. Their feminine equivalents are Ni (Nic if followed by a vowel) and Ui. Apart from patronymics, the other three great sources of all surnames, not just in Ireland, are, occupational, nicknames and locative. Surnames based on nicknames abound among the Irish. O'Sullivan is from "suil amhain" meaning one-eyed, Deeny id from "duibhne" meaning disagreeable, Roe from "ruadh" meaning red haired, Duff, Duffy, Deegan and several other surnames are all derived from the root word "dubh" (pronounced duvv or duw) meaning black. Occupational names are somewhat less common. Clery is "O Cleirigh" from the Irish word for clerk and McGowan (Mac Gabhan) is from the word for smith. Locative surnames (derived from the bearer's place of birth or where they lived), are far less common among the Irish than the English. However, there are some examples for instance De Gallbhaille (Galbally). There are two other types of Irish surname that I should mention, both derived by the addition of a prefix. In the first case the prefix is "Giolla" which means "follower of", "devotee of" or "servant of". This prefix has given rise to a large number of familiar names start with Gil... or Kil... For example, Gilmore is from Mac Giolla Mhuire (devotee of Mary), Kilbride from Mac Giolla Brighde (devotee of St. Bridget, Gildea or Kildea from Mac Giolla Dhe (servant of God), Gilleran from Mac Giolla Eanain (Eanain's servant). The second case relates to the prefix "maol" which can have the same meaning as "Giolla", i.e. devotee, etc. but which may also be derived from "mal" meaning leader or chief. From this prefix we get a whole series of names beginning Mul... Mulcahy from O Maolcathach (leader of battles), Mulderrig from O Maoildeirg (red chief), Mulhall from O Maolchathail (follower of Cathal), Mulholland from O Maolchalann (devotee of Saint Calann), and many more. And so it was that by the end of the twelfth century, names derived as explained above existed all over Ireland. However, a major event was about to happen. In 1170, the Anglo-Normans arrived in Ireland and over the course of a hundred years mingled and intermarried with the native Irish. With them came a whole new selection of names and conventions. The Anglo-Normans were mainly French speaking. Many of them were grandchildren or great-grandchildren of those who made up the force, which under William the Conqueror, subjugated the native English in 1066. Some of them had already taken surnames based on their exploits in England. For example, the leader of the invading force, Richard de Clare, better known as Strongbow, had already derived his name from a place in England. Other family, the D'Exeters derived their name from that town. However, over time, a large number of these families adopted Irish ways and Irish names. For example, the descendants of one Jordan D'Exeter adopted the patronymic Mac Suirtain, later to become anglicised as Jordan. The great family of Burke (de Burgo, de Burgh, de Burca) split into several sub-septs with names like MacHugo, MacGibbon, MacSeoinin (Jennings), MacRedmond, Mac Uilic (MacGillick) and more. The Normans also gave birth to the famous Fitz... names, the prefix being derived from the French "fils" meaning son. The Fitzgeralds, Fitzsimons, Fitzgibbons, Fitzhenrys and so on, all adopted Irish customs and became "more Irish than the Irish themselves". It is worth mentioning that not all Fitz... names are Irish. Among the Normans of England a similar practice arose and the Fitzalans, Fitzcharles's, Fitzgeffreys, etc. of that country are as blue blooded as any English family, many having no connection whatsoever with Ireland. I should also quickly mention the Fitzpatricks who are the exception to the rule. This family is Gaelic-Irish, being Mac Giolla Phadraigh (devotee of Saint Patrick). The name was first anglicised Gilpatrick, but, perhaps in an attempt to make a fashion statement, the main family adopted the Fitzpatrick form, though they have no French connection. The native Irish and the now naturalised Normans led a normal, if not totally peaceful co-existence for several hundred years, during which time many new surnames came into existence as the fortunes of families and septs waxed and waned. However, at the start of the seventeenth century, history took a severe turn. Following the defeat of the Irish chiefs and the "Flight of the Earls", English common law was enforced throughout Ireland. In an attempt to suppress the old Gaelic order (and also the catholic religion), lands were confiscated and granted to English and Scottish families. This brought a whole influx of new surnames into Ireland. The new surnames of English origin were, at first, easily spotted, with Smiths, Taylors, Fleetwoods, etc. standing out from the established names. Ulster was mainly settled by the Scottish and this creates no little confusion. Many of the names that were introduced had a distinctly Gaelic flavour. Indeed many of them were, in fact, originally Irish in origin and many more, if not actually Irish, were similarly derived from the Scots Gaelic language (MacDonnell is usually Scottish in origin while O'Donnell is Irish). Further suppression of all things Irish, resulted in an insistence that all Irish names be given an anglicised form. This resulted in a general dropping of the "Mac" and "O" prefix and to a lesser, but still significant, extent "Mul", "Gil" and "Kil" started to disappear. In a country where the majority of the population spoke Irish rather than English, it was inevitable that English-speaking civil servants would create an amazing array of anglicised forms of the old Irish names. Some were anglicised phonetically and others by translation (or more often than not, mis-translation). So MacGabhain became both (Mc)Gowan (phonetic) and Smith (translation), Mac an Tuile became Tully (phonetic) and Flood (mis-translation). The last century has seen a resurgence in the use of Gaelic names in Ireland and abroad. This has resulted in a widespread readopting of Mac and O prefixes. However, this has not always been quite consistent with the original names. There are many examples of names that were original of the "mac" type, being reborn with an "O" prefix. For example, Gorman was originally MacGorman, but when found with a prefix in Ireland today, it is usually (incorrectly) O'Gorman. One absurd example is the case of the English name Odell (originally Odehull) being made O'Dell. In summary, the majority of surnames found in Ireland today can be traced to one of four major sources. These are, native Irish, Norman, English planters and Scottish planters. There are of course others such as surnames from Wales and continental Europe.
The family history information was extracted from one of more of the following texts "Irish Families" Edward Mac Lysaght, Irish Academic Press, 4th Edition 1985, reprinted 1991 "More Irish Families" Edward Mac Lysaght, Irish Academic Press, 1982 "Irish Family Histories" Ida Grehan, Townhouse and Country Publishers (Ireland) and Roberts Rinehart Publishers (USA), 1993. "The Book of Ulster Surnames", Robert Bell, 1988, Blackstaff Press, Reprinted 1997. "The Clans and Families of Ireland", John Grenham, 1993, Gill and Macmillan. "The Book of Irish Families Great and Small", Michael C. O'Laughlin, Irish Genealogical Foundation, 1997. Volume 1 of a multivolume set. Information may also be extracted from subsequent volumes. The text may refer to the following data sources O'Donovan: Two works, "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many" and "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach". Published 1873 / 1874. The first work that attempted to chronicle the origins and history of Irish surnames. Now republished by I.G.F. ISBN 0 940134 39 X and 0 940134 38 1 Woulfe: Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall (Irish and Foreign Names), by Reverend Patrick Woulfe. Published 1923. The next major work relating to the origins and history of Irish surnames. Now republished by I.G.F. ISBN 0 940134 43 8 O'Hart: Irish Pedigrees, by John O'Hart. Generally regarded as strewn with errors and inaccuracies. Keating, "History of Ireland". Published 19th century, now republished by I.G.F. ISBN 0 940134 440 Petty's Census 1659: This was not a full census in the modern sense and its precise purpose is not fully understood. However, it does provide a snapshot of sorts of some names found in certain areas at the time. Hearth Money Rolls: In the 1660's a tax known as hearth-money was exacted. It was a charge on hearths (fireplaces); the rolls recording the tax, therefore, indicate who lived in relative comfort as against those who lived in unheated cabins and hovels. Fiant: Short for "Fiant litterae patentes". Fiants were warrants to the Chancery authority for the issue of letters patent under the Great Seal. They dealt with matters ranging from commissions for appointments to high office and important government activities, to grants of "English Liberty" and "pardons" to the humblest native Irish. Annals: These were Irish historical records kept by groups of monks. The most important are The Annals of the Four Masters and The Annals of Clomacnoise.
provided by Eddie Geoghegan
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