Morgan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Morgan name is Celtic in origin, arising from the ancient Britons of Wales. It comes from the Old Welsh personal name Morcant, composed of the Welsh elements “mor,” meaning “sea,” and cant meaning “circle.”

Early Origins of the Morgan family

The surname Morgan was first found in Caernarvonshire (Welsh: Sir Gaernarfon), a former county in Northwest Wales, anciently part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, and today divided between the unitary authorities of Gwynedd and Conwy. The surname is derived from the “Welsh personal name of high antiquity. The founder of the Pelagain heresy, in the fourth century, was a true Welshman and a monk of Bangor. His name was Morgan, which signifies ‘Of the Sea’ and this was correctly Latinized Pelagius. The Morgans of Golden Grove, co. Flint, descend from Marchudd ap Cynan, founder of the eighth noble tribe of North Wales and Powys. ” [1]

Early History of the Morgan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morgan research.

Morgan Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual’s specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Morgan have included Morgan, Morgen, Morgain, Morgaine and others.

Early Notables of the Morgan family (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Admiral Sir Henry Morgan (ca. 1635-1688), Welsh pirate who raided Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean, and became acting Governor of Jamaica (1680-1682); William Morgan (1560-1653), a Welshpolitician who sat in the House of Commons of England in 1624 and 1625, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; Thomas Morgan (c.1589-1664), a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654; Major-General Sir Thomas Morgan, 1st Baronet.

Morgan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Morgan is the 57^th most popular surname with an estimated 293,466 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name Morgan is ranked the 173^rdmost popular surname with an estimated 20,582 people with that name. [3] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Morgan is the 44^th popular surname with an estimated 514 people with that name. [4] Australia ranks Morgan as 68^th with 33,813 people. [5] New Zealand ranks Morgan as 30^th with 5,745 people. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Morgan as 38^th with 92,647 people. [7] South Africa ranks Morgan as 782^nd with 8,831 people. [8]

 Migration of the Morgan family to Ireland

Some of the Morgan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Morgan migration to the United States +

Many Welsh families joined their Scottish and Irish neighbors during the late 1800s and early 1900s in seeking refuge in North America. Like the Irish and Scottish, many Welsh anxiously awaited the work, freedom, and opportunities that they believed lay in North America. Those who did journey over to the United States and what became known as Canada often realized those dreams, but only through much toil and perseverance. Whenever and however these Welsh immigrants arrived in North America, they were instrumental in the creation of the industry, commerce, and cultural heritage within those two developing nations. In the immigration and passenger lists a number of early immigrants bearing the name Morgan were found: 

Morgan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. William Morgan, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1610 aboard the ship “Starr” [9]
• Benedict Morgan, from London, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 aboard the ship “Fortune” [10]
• Edmund Morgan, who settled in Virginia in 1623
• Mr. Roger Morgan, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship “Ark and Dove” [11]
• Mr. Walter Morgan, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship “Bonaventure” coming via St. Domingo [9]

Morgan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• John Morgan, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 [10]
• David Morgan, who arrived in America in 1700 [10]
• Enoch Morgan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1701 [10]
• Adam Morgan, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747 [10]
• George Morgan, who landed in America in 1760-1763 [10]

Morgan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• James Morgan, who arrived in America in 1806 [10]
• Aron Morgan, who landed in America in 1809 [10]
• Alexander Morgan, aged 45, who arrived in New York in 1812 [10]
• Charles Morgan, aged 28, who landed in New York in 1812 [10]
• Felix Morgan, aged 46, who landed in New York in 1812 [10]

 Morgan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Morgan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Dixey Morgan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. James Morgan U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 235 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA [12]

Morgan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Henry Morgan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1811
• Anne Morgan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1818
• Francis Morgan, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Forth” in 1833
• Jane Morgan, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Forth” in 1833
• William Morgan, aged 16, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Forth” in 1833

 Morgan migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Morgan Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. George Morgan, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[13]
• Mr. Thomas Morgan, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[13]

Morgan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Cornelius Morgan, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, Ireland for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. Hugh Morgan, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, Ireland for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. John Morgan, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, Ireland for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Mr. John Morgan, Irish convict who was convicted in Meath, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [14]
• Miss Ann Morgan, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Experiment” on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [15]

 Morgan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Morgan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Jane Emily Morgan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Aurora” in 1840
• Robert Morgan, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Phoebe Dunbar” between 1841 and 1850
• Thomas Morgan, aged 32, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Birman” in 1842
• Mary Ann Morgan, aged 34, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Birman” in 1842
• John Morgan, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Birman” in 1842

 Morgan migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [16]

Morgan Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. Pierce Morgan, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling aboard the ship “Expedition” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [17]
• Mr. William Morgan, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling aboard the ship “Expedition” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [17]
• Evan Morgan, who settled in Barbados in 1680
• Griffith Morgan, who settled in Jamaica in 1685