COSTIGAN Family History

Originally Mac Oistigain and sometimes if incorrectly Mac Costagain, and later in the 17th century Mac Costigan, Costegan, Costigan, and even O' Costigan, this is an early Irish surname. It is however arguably Norman in origin with Oistigin being a Gaelic form of the personal name Roger. This was introduced into Ireland after the conquest of the country in 1170 by Strongbow, earl of Pembroke. The surname was once very popular in Counties Leix formerly Queens County, and Kildare, but after the battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the main clan from Grange, County Leix, supported the Catholic King James 11nd and lost, they were dispossessed and gradually lost influence.