Noonan Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Noonan Family History

Noonan Family History

The ancient origin of the name Noonan was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Noonan include Nunan and Neenan. This name belongs almost exclusively to the Province of Munster and Cork where it originated. In Irish the name is O'Nuanain which is taken from a word that translates as 'beloved'. In early times O'Noonan was chief of a sept in Duhallow and they were also connected with the Church as erenaghs of the Church of Saint Beretchert at Tullylease in the barony of Duhallow. Notable people of the name were James Patrick Noonan, 1878-1929, who was an American labour leader, being the son of an Irish emigrant. In the Middle Ages, William O'Noonan was the King's surgeon who, in 1341, cured Lionel Duke, son of King Edward III, then Viceroy of Ireland. in modern times the name Noonan is still well represented in County Cork.The Noonan 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 Noonan descendants.