| ![Show Contents]() Worgan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of WorganWhat does the name Worgan mean? The Worgan 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 Worgan familyThe surname Worgan 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 Worgan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worgan research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1589, 1600, 1604, 1608, 1624, 1625, 1635, 1641, 1653, 1654, 1664, 1673, 1679, 1680, 1682, 1688, 1689, 1690, 1697, 1698, 1700, 1705, 1715, 1724, 1749, 1751, 1753, 1760, 1761, 1770, 1774, 1790 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Worgan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Worgan Spelling VariationsAlthough there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Worgan has seen various spelling variations: Morgan, Morgen, Morgain, Morgaine and others. Early Notables of the Worgan familyProminent 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 Welsh politician 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...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Worgan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Worgan family to IrelandSome of the Worgan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Worgan migration to the United States | + |
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Worgan:
Worgan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Isaac Worgan, who landed in Virginia in 1652 2
- William Worgan, who arrived in America in 1654-1679 2
Worgan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Henry Worgan, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 2
Worgan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Edward Worgan, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1879 2
| Worgan migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Worgan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. James Worgan, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
- Mr. John Worgan, Cornish clerk who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1830 convicted at Darlinghurst Gaol on 9th November 1843 4
- Mr. John Worgan, Cornish clerk who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1830 convicted at Darlinghurst Gaol on 26th February 1849 4
| Worgan 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: Worgan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Miss Julia Jenatta Worgan, (b. 1860), aged 3 months, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
- Mrs. Jenatta Worgan, (b. 1828), aged 32, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
- Mr. John Holder Worgan, (b. 1835), aged 25, British shepherd travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
- Miss Mary Elizabeth Worgan, (b. 1856), aged 4, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
- Miss Frances Emma Worgan, (b. 1857), aged 3, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
| Contemporary Notables of the name Worgan (post 1700) | + |
- John Worgan (1724-1790), Welsh organist and composer, son of a surveyor, a pupil of his brother, James Worgan (1715-1753), organist of Vauxhall Gardens 6
- Syd Worgan (b. 1917), Welsh professional boxer from Llanharan, Wales
- George Bouchier Worgan (1757-1838), English naval surgeon who accompanied the First Fleet to Australia
- Arthur Worgan (b. 1871), former English football striker
- Lee John Worgan (b. 1983), English-born, Welsh goalkeeper
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
- Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 13 Feb. 2019
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