McHugh Coat of Arms, Family Crest and McHugh Family History

McHugh Family History

The McHugh ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The Gaelic surname McAodha, meaning the son of Aodh, anglicized as 'Hugh', has acquired in the process of anglicization a great number of variants. These include the name McKay, McCoy, Hughes, Hewson, Eason, McKee, and also of course, McHugh. McHugh is the form used by the Connacht sept which is of the same origin as the O'Flahertys. They were Chiefs of the territory known as 'the barony of Clare' in County Galway. In 1585 at the time of the Cromwellian settlement they were landowners in County Galway. In modern times bearers of the name are found all around that area and even beyond, as far north as Counties Leitrim and Fermanagh. Malachy McHugh, Archbishop of Tuam, 1313-1348, was of this branch of the sept. He is called Molassie McHugh in the Annals of Clonmacnois and Loche.The McHugh family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including McHugh descendants.