The Hannagan Name

I’ve just come across a very exciting page which brings together a heap of links to Hannagan family research. If you have a free day or two to spare, check it out!

The following information comes from a page put out by the Historical Research Centre. I have a photocopied version of this, but haven’t been able to find them on the Net to permission to re-use this material.

HANNAGAN

Ireland was one of the earliest countries to evolve a system of hereditary surnames. They came into being fairly generally in the eleventh century and indeed some were formed before the year 1000. The traditional belief that the system was introduced deliberately by Brian Boru is without foundation; it developed spontaneously in Ireland, as elsewhere, as the population increased the former practice, first of single names and then of ephemeral patronymics or nicknames proved insufficiently definitive.
The Irish surname Hannagan is patronymic in origin, being one of those names derived from the first name of the original bearer. The name is an anglicization of the Irish surname O hAnnagain, and means ‘the grandson of little Annadh’ or ‘the descendant of the little slow old man.’ The name is of uncertain origin, but it is possibly an old County Limerick surname and, in some cases is used as a variant of O’Hannon. It is mainly associated with widely separate areas, Counties Waterford and Tyrone. The earliest known reference to the name occurs in 1556 when John Hanigane of Waterford City obtained ‘English liberty.’ A generation later the name occurs among jurymen and trade guild officials in Dublin and also in Inishowen pardons. Later is was a principal name in the barony of Decies, County Waterford. In Dublin, James Hannagan was warden of the guild of Saint John the Baptist (merchant sailors) in 1752-53. In 1774 David Henegan founded the course for Cork students in the Lombard College, Paris.
Blazon of Arms: Quarterly gules and or, overall on a bend sable, three crosses pattee agent.
Translation: Gules (red) denotes magnaminity. Or (gold) denotes generosity.
Crest: A pennant sable, within a wreath gules, erect.
Motto: Turris fortis mihi deus
Translation: God is a tower of strength to me.
Origin: Ireland.

I must say I'm impressed with the family motto!

Some Hannagan children

This, if I've got my facts right, is the original Raymond Hannagan - that is, not the one who currently lives in Mosgiel, but his uncle. This Raymond died when he was around four. I'm not sure of what.

The other photo is a family group consisting of most of the Hannagan brothers and sisters. From the left, Charlie with the sun in his eyes, Monica, not looking her usual bubbly self, Joyce in school uniform, Terry, I presume, on her knees, Pat and one other sister.

Flora and Thomas Joyce

I've had a bit of a discussion with Des Stokes about his mother-in-law, Flora living at some point in Hindon, and his understanding is as follows.

Flora Joyce, as she was then, lived in the Lee Stream Hotel (I remember hearing this too). Whether her father (Thomas Joyce) ran the hotel at that time or not, we don't as yet know - though's that an avenue someone might be able to investigate. It seems that Flora might have gone on horseback to school at Hindon - again something that rings a bell with me. Des thought she also learned the piano at Lee Stream - or maybe at Hindon School. (Presumably there are school records for Hindon School, if it still exists.)

Des also reminded me of another point about Thomas Joyce - he died of 'softening of the brain.' Not a very complimentary-sounding statement, though Des suspects it probably had something to do with dementia, rather than a physical softening (!)

He also thought that Thomas might have done some goldmining up Hindon/Lee Stream way. Flora's wedding ring was made from gold got from that area, but whether he mined the gold himself, or bought it, isn't clear.

I'm assuming I'm correct in thinking this is Flora as a child, and also with her father, but correct me if I'm wrong!

Question from Margaret

This came via Margaret Irvine, today.

"Does anyone know, or recall being told, where Nan (Flora Hannagan) grew up and where she lived in Dunedin before she married Pop?
Mum knows she was born in Hindon but can't for the life of her fill in any gaps after that. if anyone can help we'd really appreciate it."

If anyone can help, please contact me on mcrowl@gmail.com

The Hannagan Family

(Click on the photo to enlarge it)

The 'original' Hannagan family - is there a remarkable family resemblance? Which continues to this day? LOL
(back 'row') Charlie (with arms folded), Kit, Albert Powell, Rose, Frank, Tess, (front 'row') Molly, Grandma, Anne, Dan.
'Grandma' was Bridget Kennedy, originally. I'm not sure who Albert Powell is, but no doubt someone can tell me. I think he may have been the fiancee of either Tess or Anne.