Arundel Family History
The family history of the ancient name Armstrong
was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.
Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.
Variants of the name Armstrong
include Armstrang. The progenitor of this powerful Clan was Fairbairn, an aritour bearer of the King of Scotland. He went to the assistance of his King when in battle, and was wounded in the thigh. For his noble deed the King granted him lands on the borders and gave him the name Armstrong. The Armstrongs were numerous and warlike and held their border lands, chiefly in Liddesdale, with ease. The principle branch of the Clan, was the Armstrongs of Gilnockie. In the sixteenth century John Armstrong of Gilnockie was captured through a plan of King James V, and was hanged at Carlingrigg, with many of his followers.
In Ireland this name and its variants were introduced into Ulster Province by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland, especially during the seventeenth century. During the 'Plantations of Ireland' in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Ireland was colonized by the English Crown with this period marking the end of Gaelic supremacy in Ireland. This period brought an influx of settlers into the country but, unlike the earlier Anglo-Norman invasion of the twelfth century that resulted in a full integration into Irish society of the new arrivals, the same never occurred with the Ulster Planters who maintained their own distinct identity.
Armstrong is also an occasional anglicized form of several Gaelic names that are more usually anglicized as Traynor and Lavery.The Armstrong
family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Armstrong