The most frequent family names with roots in County Armagh — names that spread through Ireland and the Irish diaspora:
Armagh city has been the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland since Saint Patrick established his church there in the fifth century. Both the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh — each Primate of All Ireland — have their seats in Armagh city. The two cathedrals — both named Saint Patrick's — stand on adjacent hills.
The County Armagh countryside is the 'orchard county' of Ireland — its rolling drumlins support apple orchards that supplied both the domestic market and the growing cider industry. Armagh Bramley apples have Protected Geographical Indication status.
The Navan Fort — west of Armagh city — was the ancient capital of Ulster and the legendary seat of the Red Branch Knights of Irish mythology. Archaeological excavation revealed it to be one of the most significant ritual sites in prehistoric Ireland.
Armagh emigrants went in large numbers to both America and Australia. The county's mixed religious heritage meant its diaspora included both Catholic and Protestant Irish who sometimes maintained separate community identities. The Armagh Catholic diaspora in New York was significant in the nineteenth century.
Love Ireland covers Armagh's ecclesiastical heritage, the Navan Fort, and the orchard country that few visitors discover. The city of Saint Patrick is among the most historically layered in Ireland.
Subscribe to Love Ireland — FreeIf your family came from County Armagh, here's where to start your research:
Common County Armagh surnames with dedicated pages on this site: