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History of the O'Duigenan Coat of Arms
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The original Coat of Arms was granted in 1891 |
In 1983 the Coat of Arms was changed to the following Seal |
| Seal |
by Sir John Burke, Principal Herald of all Ireland toWilliam Henry Duignan of
Walsall, in county of Stafford, England, gentleman, son of the late Henry
Duignan, of the same place and grandson of John Duignan, born at Ardagh, near
Edgeworthstown, in the county of Longford, Ireland, who settled in Walsall, aforesaid, circa the year 1784, and to his descendants, and to the other descendants of his aforesaid grandfather, John
Duignan. I do further certify that the pedigree of the Duignan or O Duigenan family, as recorded in the register of my office, was of ancient Celtic origin |
James Joseph Duignan of Enaghan, Moyne in the County of
Longford, son of James Duignan, grandson of Thomas Duignan and great-grandson of Patrick
Duignan, (all of the parish of Dromard, Longford) applied to the Chief Herald of Ireland to make additions to the earlier coat of arms |
| ARMS |
Argent, on amount in base, vert an oak tree, the stem entwined with two serprents interwoven and erect, respecting each other, all proper. |
Argent on a mount in base, vert an oak tree the trunk entwinded with two serpents intertwined and erect especting each other with a harp and an open book all proper. |
| CREST |
An owl at gaze, proper. |
An owl at gaze, proper. |
| MOTTO |
Historia Magistra Vitae (Latin: History is the mistress/teacher of life) |
Stair Maistreas na Beatha (Gaelic version of the same motto as used in the earlier arms.) |
All the above information was obtained from the orgianal coat of arms documents
Some History
William Henry became one of the most renowned citizens of Walsall, was Lord Mayor several times and held other public offices. However, he never forgot his Irish roots and nationality. He was a practising solicitor in Walsall, Birmingham and London, Clerk of the Peace for over 25 years and was first elected Lord Mayor in 1869. He was a man of learning and culture, an active Irish Home Ruler and had aquaintance with the nationalist members of Parliament. This English connection came about because much earlier a brother of the celebrated Dr. Patrick Duignan took an interest in one of his nephews (John Duignan, grandfather of William Henry) and provided him with an excellent education. In later years William Henry travelled through Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon with his son Carl. He took a lot of interest in Kilronan and Fenagh because of their strong O Duigenan connections. He died at age 90 in March 1914, proud of his Irish ancestry and descent from the O Duigenan family of hereditary historians and scribes.
In 1983, the following additions were made to the coat of arms: an open book on one side of the tree and a harp on the other side, with mantling and helmet under the owl. James Duignan has been working on the family genealogy since about 1981 and felt the additions were appropriate, considering the Duignan history as historiographers, bards and churchmen and women. |
