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Irish surname

McGovern: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mag Shamhradháin, Mag Shamhráin · 'son of Samhradhán' (diminutive of samhradh, summer)

Woulfe (1923) gives McGovern as an anglicised form of Mag Shamhradháin, 'son of Samhradhán', a diminutive of samhradh, summer. It was the name of an old Breifney family whose head was chief of Tellach Eachach, now the barony of Tullyhaw in north-west Cavan. In 1890, 102 McGovern births (including spelling varieties) were registered in Ireland, chiefly in Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim.

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Coat of arms associated with the McGovern surname
Irish formMag Shamhradháin, Mag Shamhráin
Meaning'son of Samhradhán' (diminutive of samhradh, summer)
CountiesCavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim
Other spellings8

Origin of the McGovern name

Mag Shamhradháin was 'the name of an old Breifney family, the head of which was chief of Tellach Eachach, now the barony of Tullyhaw, in the north-west of Co. Cavan'. Woulfe adds that the name is 'still very numerous'.[1]

  1. 1890102 McGovern births registered (incl. varieties), chiefly in Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. CavanSeat of the chief of Tellach Eachach (Tullyhaw barony); 'McGovern 18' in Cavan's 1890 table, which includes varieties.[1][4]
Co. FermanaghFirst county named for McGovern births in 1890; 23 McGovern entries in the Fermanagh table.[2][4]
Co. LeitrimPrincipal McGovern county in 1890; 13 McGovern entries in the Leitrim table.[2][3]

Other spellings

MacGovern · Magovern · Magauran · MacGauran · MacGowran · MacGovran · Magurn · Gorevan[1]

The McGovern coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McGovern surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

McGovern crest gifts

Clan Mcgovern Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap YD78 Mcgovern Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Mcgovern Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Macgovern Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapLB89 Classic Cap - Macgovern Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Macgovern Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Mcgovern Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapUE59 Classic Cap - Mcgovern Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mcgovern Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

McGovern surname: questions

What does the surname McGovern mean?

Woulfe gives McGovern as a form of Mag Shamhradháin, 'son of Samhradhán', a diminutive of samhradh, summer.[1]

Is McGovern Irish or Scottish?

Woulfe gives McGovern as an anglicised form of the Irish surname Mag Shamhradháin, the name of an old Breifney family whose head was chief of Tellach Eachach, now the barony of Tullyhaw in Co. Cavan. The sources used here say nothing about a Scottish origin.[1]

Where in Ireland is the McGovern name from?

Its old homeland was Tullyhaw in north-west Cavan. In 1890 McGovern births were found chiefly in Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim.[1][2]

Are Magauran and McGovern the same name?

Woulfe lists Magauran, Magovern, MacGauran and MacGovern among the anglicised forms of Mag Shamhradháin.[1]

Sources

  1. Mag Shamhradháin, Mag Shamhráin – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/mag/mag-shamhradhain-mag-shamhrain.php
  2. McGovern – Birth Indexes of 1890 – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mcgovern.php
  3. Registration Province of Connaught (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/connaught-names.php
  4. Registration Province of Ulster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/ulster-names.php
  5. Magauran – Birth Indexes of 1890 – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/magauran.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).