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Irish surname

Nugent: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

de Núinnseann (Norman); Uinnseadún (Cork Nugents); also used for Mac Giolla Seanáin · Norman 'de Nugent', i.e. of Nogent, a common place-name in France

Nugent is a Norman surname. Woulfe (1923) says the Nugents came to England with William the Conqueror and settled in Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion; Gilbert de Nugent was made baron of Delvin by Hugh de Lacy, and in 1621 Richard Nugent, Baron of Delvin, was created Earl of Westmeath. Woulfe adds that the Gaelic Mac Giolla Seanáin is now often disguised as Nugent.

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Coat of arms associated with the Nugent surname
Irish formde Núinnseann (Norman); Uinnseadún (Cork Nugents); also used for Mac Giolla Seanáin
MeaningNorman 'de Nugent', i.e. of Nogent, a common place-name in France
CountiesWestmeath, Cork, Armagh, Dublin
Other spellings2

Origin of the Nugent name

Norman. Woulfe: 'de Nugent,' i.e. of Nogent; the Nugents 'settled in Ireland at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion' and 'were one of the most illustrious of the Norman families in Ireland'. A Cork branch, from Winchester, was called Uinnseadún in Irish. The Gaelic Mac Giolla Seanáin (Meath, Cavan, Tyrone) is 'now often disguised' as Nugent.[1][2][3]

  1. 1621Richard Nugent, Baron of Delvin, created Earl of Westmeath.[1][6]
  2. 1641Richard Nugent, Earl of Westmeath, dies after being attacked on his way towards Trim.[6]
  3. 1691Christopher Nugent goes to France after the capitulation of Limerick.[7]
  4. 1849Count Lavall Nugent presented with a Field-Marshal's baton in Austria.[8]
  5. 189075 Nugent births registered; Matheson's counties include Armagh, Dublin, Cork and Tipperary.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. WestmeathDelvin (east Westmeath) lands granted by Hugh de Lacy to Gilbert Nugent; Earls of Westmeath from 1621.[1][4]
Co. CorkCork Nugents 'formed a clan after the Irish fashion'; chief at Aghavarten Castle, near Carrigaline. Also named for 1890 births.[2][5]
Co. ArmaghFirst county named by Matheson for 1890 Nugent births.[5]
Co. DublinNamed by Matheson for 1890 Nugent births.[5]
Co. TipperaryNamed by Matheson for 1890 Nugent births.[5]
Co. TyroneMac Giolla Seanáin, 'now often disguised' as Nugent, was a common surname in Tyrone, Meath and Cavan.[3]

Notable people named Nugent

Sir Richard Nugent, 15th Baron Delvin, Earl of Westmeath1583–1641Descended from Sir Gilbert de Nugent; created Earl of Westmeath in 1621.[6]
Christopher Nugentd. 1731Lieutenant-Colonel in James II's Irish army; commanded an Irish Brigade regiment at Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet.[7]
Thomas Nugentd. 1772Irish-born author and translator; Pocket Dictionary of French and English (1767); translated Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws.[9]
Count Lavall Nugent1777–1862Born in Ireland; Austrian Field-Marshal, descended from the 1st Earl of Westmeath.[8]

Other spellings

de Nugent · de Nungent[1]

The Nugent coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Nugent 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.

Nugent crest gifts

Clan Nugent Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXS17 Classic Cap - Nugent Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Nugent Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Nugent Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap DE90 Nugent Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Nugent Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Nugent surname: questions

Is Nugent an Irish name?

Nugent is Norman in origin. Woulfe says the Nugents came to England with William the Conqueror and settled in Ireland at the Anglo-Norman invasion. He adds that the Gaelic Mac Giolla Seanáin is now often anglicised Nugent.[1][3]

What does the surname Nugent mean?

Woulfe gives it as Norman 'de Nugent', i.e. of Nogent, a common place-name in France.[1]

Who were the Nugents of Delvin?

Woulfe says Gilbert de Nugent was made baron of Delvin by Hugh de Lacy, and the title continued in the family until 1621, when Richard Nugent, Baron of Delvin, was created Earl of Westmeath.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Nugent name found?

Historically in Westmeath (Delvin) and Cork, per Woulfe. In 1890 Matheson names Armagh, Dublin, Cork and Tipperary among the counties where Nugent births were principally found.[1][2][4][5]

Sources

  1. de Núinnseann — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/d/de-nuinnseann.php
  2. Uinnseadún — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/u/uinnseadun.php
  3. Mac Giolla Seanáin, Mac Giolla Sionáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-giolla-seanain-mac-giolla-sionain...
  4. Ó Fionnalláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/of/o-fionnallain.php
  5. Nugent — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/nugent.php
  6. Nugent, Sir Richard, Earl of Westmeath — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirRichardNugentEarlofWestmeath.php
  7. Nugent, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/LieutenantColonelChristopherNugent.php
  8. Nugent, Count Lavall — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/CountLavallNugent.php
  9. Nugent, Thomas — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/ThomasNugent.php

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