French (family)
The French family (also spelled Ffrench, meaning "French") from Galway is one of the major 14 Cambro-Norman families that the Tribes of Galway ( English Tribes of Galway are) called and for centuries the city and the surrounding countryside in Ruled County Galway in Ireland . She accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066 and belonged to the first wave of Cambro-Norman settlers in Ireland in 1169. They sat or are sitting at Castle French and in Monivea , Frenchgrove, Rahasane and Tyrone in County Galway, as well as in several locations in Mayo and Roscommon Counties . But there are only a few members of the family left.
The family is descended from Sir Maximilian Ffrench, the first bearer of this name, whose descendants went to England with William the Conqueror. Their original residence in Ireland, like that of other Cambro Normans, was County Wexford , from where they moved to other parts of Ireland.
Two families of this name settled in Galway in different eras. The first was Walter French around 1425, during the reign of Henry VI. (1421-1471) in London. The second, Henry Begg Ffrench, during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Since then, the French have been among the most important families in Connacht Province . Seán an tSalainn French (1489–1546) was Mayor of Galway from 1538–1539. The family that sits on Castle Ffrench, in Ballinamore Bridge near Ahascragh in County Galway, was in 1798 in the peer state levied. Charles Baron Ffrench, is the current owner of Castle French, which is for sale.
The other branches of the French name are those of Ballinahalla, now Beagh, Carrorea, Elmhill, Ffrenchgrove, Monivea, Portcarn, Rahasane and Tyrone all in County Galway, as well as Ballykeneave and Culliane in County Mayo, and Foxborough, Frenchpark, Port, and Rocksavage Snipehill, in County Roscommon.
A roundabout in Galway is named after the family.
literature
- Adrian Martyn: The Tribes of Galway: 1124-1642 , Galway, 2016. ISBN 978-0-9955025-0-5