Person:Robert Flanagan (76)

Went from Ireland to England when young -- met and married Alsie and fled to America. (Feaster Wolford's "Mountain Memories")

After Alsie left, Robert was sent his nephew to raise (Samuel). Samuel married Katherine Gardner and fought, as did Ebenezer, in the Revolutionary War. (Carol Flanagan)

Spelling variations of the name include: Flanagan, Flanaghan, Flangan, Flanigan, Flannagan, Flannigan, Flanningan, Flanikin, Flanakin, Flanagin, Flanigin, Flenniken, Flannacan, Flannacain, and any of these prefixed with an O'. We expect there are likely to be more. All variations are welcomed into Clan Flanagan. What other spellings of the name have your researches uncovered?

The surname Flanagan is descriptive in origin, "Flann" meaning red or ruddy. Most sources suggest that it means "red-headed" though some suggest that it refers to a ruddy complexion. Several distinct families with the surname emerged in Ireland, arising in different locales, including the counties of Fermanagh, Offaly, Roscommon, Waterford, and Westmeath.

Participate in the FLANAGAN DNA PROJECT AT FAMILY TREE DNA

The Flanagan Surname DNA project began after I decided to submit my DNA to Family Tree DNA for y chromosome analysis. Motivated by a desire to know how various Flanagan families are connected and, in particular, where my line falls within that. The surname Flanagan and its' variants [Gaelic O'Flannagain] derive from the word flann meaning "red" - most sources suggest that it means "red-headed" though some suggest that it refers to a ruddy complexion. Flanagan is one of the more common Irish names and occurs throughout the country with lines in Roscommon, Fermanagh, Cork, and other counties. Just as in Ireland, the Flanagan surname outside Ireland has many lines and origins, with the name first appearing in the Americas during the colonial period. My ancester, John Flanagan [born about 1768, died 1857] came to Kentucky from North Carolina, where sources indicate that he was born, around 1800 and is currently one of my many "brick walls" in going further back. His death record indicates that his father's name was Bryant Flanagan, though I do not know if that is accurate. That desire to learn how we all fit together and to possibly some day learn where and from which lines we originated in Ireland motivated me to pursue DNA as a potential source of information and then to initiate this project at FTDNA. My personal account can be viewed here.

http://flanaganfamily.tripod.com/DNAProfileGaryFlanagan.html

Cruachan

In ancient lore the kingdom of Connacht (or Connaught) was ruled from a ritual center at Cruachain Ai, near Rathcroghan between Belanagare and Elphin, in the County Roscommon. According to tradition, the Firbolg tribes ruled much of Connacht down to the third century. The ancient chronicles state that at the commencement of the 4th century the whole of Connaught was taken from the Firdomnians, a branch of the Firbolgs, who had held it till that time under the Milesians. Domnon and Domnann are place names in west and northwest Co. Mayo as referenced in a 7th century work by Tírechán.

Fearadhach Finnfeachtnach, son of Crimhthann Niadhnair, an early 1st century king of Ireland, was said to be the progenitor of the race of Conn Ceadchadhach (of the Hundred Battles). Conn, a legendary king of Ireland in the 2nd century, was progenitor of the later ruling Connachta tribes (of Milesian descent) and the namesake for the kingdom of Connacht.

In the 2nd century Ptolemy created the first map of Hibernia (Ireland) which included information he had received from other sources and with possible origins back to the 1st century. Although the accuracy of Ptolemy's description is questionable, it is interesting to note some of the tribes that he mentioned occupying the island at that time. The county reference below is taken from Samuel Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" published in the 1830's.

Certain Irish texts describe some of the early tribes or territories of Connacht as Fir Chraíbe, Tuatha Taíden, Gamanrad, Cattraige, Dál nDruithne, Gabraige Succa, Bolg Tuath Bagna (Badhna), Domnainn, and Clann Úmóir. In O'Flaherty's Ogygia, the Fir na Craibhe, Gamanraige and Tuatha Taiden were called Fir Olnegmact (fir Ól nÉcmacht), possibly an early name for Connacht(?).

In early medieval times Connacht (or Connaught) contained within it the modern counties of Cavan (now part of Ulster), Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. Click here for a Physical Map of the Connacht region.

Cavan - According to Ptolemy, this tract, with the districts included in the adjacent counties of Leitrim and Fermanagh, was occupied by the Erdini, designated in the Irish language Ernaigh, traces of which name are yet preserved in that of Lough Erne and the river Erne, upon which and their tributaries these districts border. This district, exclusively of the greater part of the present county of Fermanagh, formed also the ancient principality of Breifne.

Galway - In the time of Ptolemy, this region was inhabited by the Auteri, who spread themselves also into the adjoining counties of Mayo and Roscommon. At a later, though still very remote date, it was thus parceled out among tribes or families; Clanconow, or Clonmacnoon, among the Burkes; Clanfirgail, among the O'Hallorans; Hymaine, among the O'Dalys and O'Kellys; Maghullen, now Moycullen, among the O'Flahertys; Silnamchia, now Longford; and Hy Fiacra Aidne, afterwards Clanricarde, possessed by the Burkes, Burghs, or De Bourgos.

Leitrim - According to Ptolemy, this tract, together with that comprised in the counties of Fermanagh and Cavan, was occupied by the Erdini, called in Irish "Ernaigh", who possessed the entire county bordering on Lough Erne. Leitrim, together with that of Cavan and part of Fermanagh, afterwards formed the territory of Breffny, or Brenny, which was divided into two principalities, of which the present county of Leitrim formed the western, under the name of Lower or West Breffny, and Hy Briuin Breffny.

Mayo - At the period when Ptolemy wrote, the Nagnatae were the inhabitants of the whole of the county, with the exception of a small portion of its southern extremity, into which the Auterii, who were settled in the northwest of Galway, had penetrated.

Roscommon - According to Ptolemy, this region was inhabited by the Auteri, who occupied also the present county of Galway. Among the native septs by whom it was afterwards occupied, the O'Conors enjoyed the supreme authority in the central districts, the Mac Dermots in the northern, and the O'Ceilys or O'Kellys in the southern.

Sligo - This county was included in the territory of the Nagnatae in the time of Ptolemy, the chief city of which tribe, Nagnata, is supposed by some to have been somewhere near the site of the town of Sligo. It was afterwards possessed by a branch of the O'Conors, called for the sake of distinction O'Conor Sligo. The families of O'Hara, O'Dowd, Mac Donagh, and Mac Ferbis, were also heads of septs in different districts.

For further information also see Dynasties and Territories of Connacht.

This surname is practically the same in both its Irish and Anglicized forms, being in the former O Flannagain, which is probably derived from the adjective flann meaning reddish or ruddy. It belongs to Connacht both by origin and location (I.e present distribution of population). Flanagan, with of course O'Flanagan, for this is one of those names with which the prefix is frequently retained, is numbered among the hundred commonest surnames in Ireland and has the sixth-ninth place on that list. The greatest number of these are found in Co.. Roscommon and in the counties of the western seaboard - Mayo, Galway and Clare. They sprang from one Flanagan, who was of the same stock as the royal O'Connors and his line held the hereditary post of steward to the Kings of Connacht. These, who were seated between Mantua and Elphin, represent the main O'Flanagan sept. There were also minor septs of the same name in other parts of the country which were still represented in the seventeenth century; of Toorah in north-west Fermanagh and again of the barony of Ballybrit in Offaly. Some descendants of these are still to be found in both these areas. Donough O'Flanagan (d. 1308), Bishop of Elphin, was famous abroad as well as at home for his hospitality and devotion. Other notable Irishmen of the name were Roderick Flanagan (1828-1861), founder of the Sydney Chronicle: Thomas Flanagan (1814-1865), author of the History of the Church in England; and James Roderick Flanagan (1814-1900), voluminous author on Irish subjects. Theophilus O'Flanagan (1760-1818), was a leading figure in the early Gaelic revival movement.