Geagan Family
MOTTO:
Semper patriae servire praesto
Motto Translated:
Always ready to serve my country
Crest:
A gold or yellow greyhound walking
Coat of Arms:
A silver shield with a red lion, between three red hands
The name Geagan is a derivation of the Irish name Gaughan. This name has many spellings, some of which are Geoghegan, Gagin, Gagen and Gaughan. The name Gaughan in Gaelic means "Descendent of little Gaibhteach (plaintive)". The spelling Gagen should not be confused with the French name of the same, which is very common in French Canada.
The family coat of arms is difficult to find, however one reference to it that I have found shows the "Red hand" of Ulster and the "Red Lion" of Scotland. The fact that the coat of arms contains the "Red Lion" of Scotland may indicate that the family is of Scot-Irish origins. Edward MacLysaght, first Chief Herald of Ireland, gives the blazon (heraldic description) of the MacGeoghegan coat of arms as "Argent a lion rampant between three dexter hands couped at the wrist gules. Crest: A greyhound passant or." In simple English this translates to "on a silver or white shield, a red lion attacking, between three red hands severed at the wrist. Crest - a gold or yellow greyhound walking." The motto "semper patriae servire praesto" is not recorded in Ireland, may be found in Burke's General Armory. It means "always ready to serve my country".
One interesting family legend that has been passed down through the generations is that a Spanish prince once married into the Gaughan family in Ireland. A fact of history may lend some credence to this "Legend". During the Spanish armada many ships were ship wrecked on the west coast of Ireland and the survivors intermarried with the local populace.
