Colgan & McColgan Families List (Worldwide)

This page lists the top generation of the identified Colgan and McColgan families across the world, which we are currently working on.  It is a highly–dynamic list, undergoing major research and revisions. 

In some cases (especially where Irish records have not survived), the parents are not known or proven to the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), so many lines might be listed separately as a “family,” as if they were unrelated, because the top generation is not proven.  Records in Ireland have been subjected to a number of catastrophic incidents that destroyed many original documents, so some may not be able to be proven – or may take considerable effort to work around. 

 🇮🇪  Flag note: The Irish flag next to names denotes individuals who were born anywhere on the island of Ireland (both the current Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland).  As Northern Ireland has no official flag, grouping all births in Ireland together also reduces confusion. Nearly every Colgan immigrant to the U.S. arrived before partition, so this just creates a quick categorization and easily-scanned list. “Ireland” is a standard designation in official government records in the United States.
✝️ Note on religious affiliation notations: These notes are used to identify possible region of origin, archives to search for records, matching records in Ireland, etc.  There are cases of marriage into another affiliation, conversion, etc.; this is only a general genealogical research starting point. Unusual affiliations like Quaker and Baptist help confirm the correct records, and locate the correct archives.  The notation is for genealogical research purposes; it does not denote a proven assessment of active practice of a particular religion.

⚠️ THIS LIST IS STILL VERY MUCH UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND REVISION.

IF YOU Want help with your OWN Colgan / McColgan research, or would like to contribute, contact us.

🔶 🌳 Patrick Colgan (Abt. 1834 – 1912) 🇮🇪 and Sarah (née Colsh) Colgan (Abt. 1831 – 1909) 🇮🇪 
✝️ Roman Catholic
☘️ Lived in and around Tullamore, County Offaly (Formerly King’s), Ireland
🔹 Parents of: 

  • William Colgan (Abt. 1831 – unknown) 🇮🇪 
  • Patrick Colgan (Abt. 1865 – unknown) 🇮🇪 (unconfirmed identity/match; possible conflict)
  • Mary Anne Colgan (Abt. 1868 – unknown) 🇮🇪 wife of Michael Mahon (Abt. 1863 – unknown) 🇮🇪
  • James Colgan (Abt. 1875 – 1926) 🇮🇪 husband of Teresa McManus (Abt. 1880 – 1960) 🇮🇪

This family may also include (under confirmation research):

  • Patrick Colgan (Abt. 1871 – 1930) 🇮🇪 husband of Florence (née Frost) Colgan (Abt. 1879 – unknown) 🇬🇧
    • Patrick (Arthur) Joseph Colgan (1908 – 1990) 🇨🇦 husband of Rita (née Duerden) Colgan (Abt. 1926 – 2019) 🇨🇦

🔶 🌳 Patrick Colgan (Born Abt. 1810 – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Mary Colgan (Abt. 1820 – unknown) 🇮🇪  – (This family may match my straight paternal line, and the Phase 1 focus of this site’s content.)
✝️ Roman Catholic
☘️ Originated around Kildare – west of Dublin
🔹 Parents of:

  • Brigid Colgan (Abt. 1835 – unknown) 🇮🇪 
  • Patrick Colgan (Abt. 1839 – unknown) 🇮🇪 
  • Alicia Colgan (Abt. 1841 – unknown) 🇮🇪
  • James Colgan (Abt. 1843 – unknown) 🇮🇪
  • Elizabeth Colgan (Abt. 1845 – unknown) 🇮🇪
  • Teresa Colgan (Abt. 1849 – unknown) 🇮🇪

🔶 🌳 Patrick Colgan (Abt. 1823 – 1891) 🇮🇪 and Louise (Straw?) (née Cunningham) Colgan (Abt. 1832 – 1913) 🇮🇪
🗺️ May have migrated from Connecticut. Based around Nebraska in the U.S.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 William Thomas Colgan (Abt. 1866 – 1945) 🇮🇪 and Christina (née Quarrie) Colgan (Abt. 1870 – 1954) 🇨🇦
🗺️ Lived in Canada
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 John Colgan (Abt. 1823 – unknown) 🇮🇪 husband of Esther “Asa” (née Little) Colgan (Abt. 1830 – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Sarah (Unknown) Colgan (Abt. 1845 – unknown) 🇨🇦
✝️ Protestant
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over. This was a large family with about 12 children.
🔹 Parents of:

  • William Thomas Colgan (1869 – 1943) 🇨🇦

🔶 🌳 Edward Colgan (Abt. 1900 – unknown) 🇺🇸 and Catherine (née McNamara) Colgan (Abt. 1906 – unknown) 🇺🇸
🗺️ Lived in Connecticut
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

  • Edward Joseph Colgan (Abt. 1925 – 1999) 🇺🇸
  • Jeannette Marie Colgan (Abt. 1928 – 2006) 🇺🇸
  • John M. Colgan (Abt. 1928 – 1986) 🇺🇸
  • Maryann Colgan (Abt. 1932 – unknown) 🇺🇸

🔶 🌳 Unknown Colgans
🗺️ Lived in and around Bridgeport, Connecticut
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 Daniel Colgan (Abt. 1823 – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Sarah (Unknown) Colgan (Abt. 1824 – unknown) 🇮🇪
✝️ Protestant – Presbyterian
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 George Colgan (Abt. 1819 – 1895) 🇮🇪 and Elizabeth (née Smith) Colgan (Abt. 1824 – 1888) 🇮🇪
✝️ Protestant – Presbyterian
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction and review of third party work; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 John Colgan (Abt. 1851 – 1914) 🇺🇸 and Mary (née McGuire) Colgan (Abt. 1849 – 1909) 🇮🇪
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 James Colgan (Abt. 1816 – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Ann (née McCann) Colgan (Abt. 1826 – unknown) 🇮🇪
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Also spelled “Colligan” in records
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

  • Margaret Colgan (Abt. 1851 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • James Colgan (Abt. 1853 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Patrick Colgan (Abt. 1857 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Peter Colgan (Abt. 1859 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Joseph Colgan (Abt. 1861 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Thomas Colgan (Abt. 1865 – unknown) 🇨🇦

🔶 🌳 Bridget Colgan (Abt. 1778 – 1847) 🇮🇪
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Canada – around Saint-Odilon-de-Cranbourne, Quebec
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Lawrence Colgan (Abt. 1820 – 1885) 🇮🇪 and Bridget (née McCaffrey) Colgan (Abt. 1822 – 1894) 🇮🇪, Parents of:

  • James Colgan (Abt. 1848 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Mary Ann Colgan (Abt. 1850 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • John Colgan (Abt. 1852 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Edward Colgan (Abt. 1856 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Catherine Colgan (Abt. 1859 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Lawrence Colgan (Abt. 1862 – unknown) 🇨🇦
  • Bridget Colgan (Abt. 1864 – unknown) 🇨🇦

🔹 Edward Colgan (Abt. 1824 – 1909) 🇮🇪 and M. Ellen O’Farrell (Abt. 1829 – 1903) 🇮🇪, Parents of:

🔶 🌳 Household of John Colgan (Abt. 1799 – unknown) 🇮🇪
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Canada – around Saint-Odilon-de-Cranbourne, Quebec
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Members of this household:

🔶 🌳 Patrick Colgan (unknown – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Mary (née Barry) Colgan (unknown – unknown) 🇮🇪
🗺️ Lived in Canada – Quebec
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 James M. Colgan (Abt. 1847 – 1932) 🇺🇸 and Ellen (née Hennessy) Colgan (Abt. 1826 – 1904) 🇨🇦
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Maine and surrounding states
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
⚠️ May be the son of Lawrence Colgan from Quebec, but needs verification due to birth location conflicts 
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 John Colgan (Abt. 1843 – 1912) 🇨🇦 and Ellen (née O’Neill) Colgan (Abt. 1852 – 1937) 🇨🇦
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 James Colgan (Abt. 1829 – 1919) 🇮🇪 and Margaret (née Kilmartin) Colgan (Abt. 1833 – 1906) 🇮🇪
🗺️ Lived in Ohio
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 Charles Colgan (Abt. 1854 – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Margaret Templeton (née Scott) Colgan (Abt. 1857 – unknown) 🇮🇪
🗺️ Lived in the UK and Canada
🔹 Parents of:

  • William John Colgan (Abt. 1879 – unknown) 🇬🇧
  • Charles Templeton Colgan (Abt. 1884 – unknown) 🇬🇧
  • John Sinclair Colgan (Abt. 1885 – 1943) 🇬🇧
  • Margaret Victoria Colgan (Abt. 1890 – unknown) 🇬🇧
  • Jeanette Colgan
  • Kathleen Cecilia Colgan
  • Leonard Colgan

🔶 🌳 John Colgan (Abt. 1811 – 1879) 🇮🇪 and Ellen (née Kelly) Colgan (Abt. 1820 – 1859) 🇮🇪
✝️ Roman Catholic
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 Lawrence Colgan (Abt. 1862 – 1932) 🇨🇦 and Alice (née Gagnon) Colgan (Abt. 1887 – 1942) 🇨🇦
🗺️ Lived in Canada – Quebec
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.

🔶 🌳 Lawrence Colgan (Abt. 1868 – 1957) 🇨🇦 and Alice (née McGrath) Colgan (Abt. 1868 – 1948) 🇨🇦
🗺️ Lived in Canada – Quebec
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over. This was a large family with about 12 children.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 Bartholomew “Bartley” Colgan (unknown – unknown) 🇮🇪 and Jane Ann (née Deiet) Colgan (Abt. 1809 – 1889) 🇮🇪
🗺️ Lived in Canada
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

🔶 🌳 Joseph Colgan (Abt. 1877 – 1965) 🇮🇪 and Bridget (née Hickey) Colgan (Abt. 1881 – 1936) 🇮🇪
🗺️ Family in Ireland, Canada, USA
⚠️ Under significant construction; additional details being confirmed and transferred over.
🔹 Parents of:

 

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