HELLO TO ALL WHO VISIT HERE, THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT STARTING A HOMEPAGE AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CLANN GAHAN THAT EXIST TODAY.
SOME HISTORY OF
THE GAHAN FAMILY
Spelling variations of the name
are found in the historical archives particularly when families attempted to translate the
name from the Gaelic into English. The name Gahan appears in many references and
from time to time the surname includes the spellings, Gahan, Gaghan, Gagham, Getham,
McGahan, O'Gahan, MacGahan and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between
father and son.
The great Gaelic family Gahan emerged in later years in County Derry. This notable
family were a branch of the O'Cahan Irish Clann and were know as the Princes of Limavardy.
The name first became Gahan in Irish Records when Captain Daniel Gahan acquired
territories in Tipperary, a branch of the main Derry Sept in 1641. They also
branched to the Counties Wexford and Wicklow. The Clann also had estates in Dublin
and a townhouse in Church Street.
Notable amongst the family at this time was Captain Daniel Gahan.
By 1845 the great potato famine had caused widespread misery and poverty, and the exodus
from Ireland began.
Within fifty years the
population was reduced to less than half.
Many Irish joined the armada of sailing ships from Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Holyhead,
Liverpool and Glascow; many bound for the New World; some to Australia.
In North America some of the
first migrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Sept Gahan of that same family
included John Gahan who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773; followed by James in 1842; another
John in 1856; Patrick in 1867; William Gahan settled in Boston, Mass. in 1818.
Other Gahan Sites:
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