history

After contacting the Place Names Dept of Queens University of Belfast, there is also a possibility the surname Willighan could be derived from Mulligan (Ui Mhaolachain). See the "Derrywilligan" page on the index for more information.

There are even derivations of Willighan: Willigan, Willaughan, and Willaghan to name but a few. I am aware of a small number of Willaghans living in the UK, while there are many Willigans in the United States.

I can trace my Willighan name back to the Sion Mills/Castlederg area of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in the 1901 census. Even so, within a short distance, there are records of Woolaghan, Willaghan and Willaughan.

On this page is the Hoolahan family crest, and in time, I hope to be able to construct a Willighan crest.

The Hoolahan crest

Name History

The Willighan surname is more than likely a derivative of the Irish clan, Hoolahan. I am led to believe that over the years, a branch of the Hoolahan tree has manifested itself into Willighan.
Houlahan originally appeared in Gaelic as O hUallachain, which is derived from the word uallach, which means proud. Other spelling variations include Holohan, Hoolohan, Houlihan, Whoolahan and many more. First found in the kingdom of Thomond (which included Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and part of Offaly), where they held a family seat from ancient times.