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O'Hagan

The Irish name O'Hagan is derived from the native Gaelic O'hAgain Sept that was originally rendered as O'hOgain, from a Gaelic word meaning 'young'.

Until the destruction of Gaelic order in the 17th Century the O'Hagan's were one of the most powerful and influential families in Ulster, holding the title Lord of Tullohogue.

Chiefs of the Clan Feargusa, they descended from Fergus grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages. King of Ireland from 370 to 406. For over six hundred years the O'Hagan's were hereditary brehons and inaugurators of O'Neill as King of Ulster.

According to tradition, O'Hagan inaugurated O'Neill by putting on his slipper hence the shoe always appears in the Coat of Arms. In right of their profession they were granted vast Estates in Dungannon Upper Barony in East Tyrone. Before the 1200s branches of the sept were established in Monoghan and Armagh and soon spread into neighbouring Antrim, Derry and Down. Two places called Ballyagan, one in Derry and the other in Antrim attest to the O'Hagans predominance in the region.

During the 17th Century O'Hagans staunchly opposed English aggression and a number were at the Battle of Kinsale in 1603, suffering great losses with the dispossessions that followed. Some were hanged at Carrickfergus County Antrim.

Of the many notables, the best known is Turlough O'Hagan Chief of the Name who journeyed to Wicklow in 1590 to Hugh O'Donnell to Ulster following the latter's dramatic escape from imprisonment in Dublin Castle. Ivor O'Hagan tutor of St Malachy (c 1100) was a member of the Armagh Branch. In modern times of interest were John O'Hagan (1822--1890) patriot poet and Judge; Thomas O'Hagan (1812--1885) first Catholic Lord Chancellor of Ireland since James II; and Mary O'Hagan (1823 -1876) founder and Abbess of the Covenant of the Poor Clares.

References

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/r/a/Bronwyn-Craig-WV/FILE/0009page.html