The Ancient Arms of

TEAGUE

The history of the name Teague dates back to a time before Irish names were translated into English. The original Gaelic form was MacTaidh, or O’ Taidhg. The history of the distinguished Irish name Teague belongs to the green valleys and mountains of the Emerald Isle.

        Books by notable historians such as O’Hart, Mac Lysaught and O’ Brien, and documents such as baptismals, parish records, and ancient land grants, were researched by historians who found that the family name Teague was first recorded in county Galway where they have been seated from ancient times. Variations in the spelling of the name often occurred. The surname was from time to time spelled MacTeige, McTeige, MacTigue, MacCaig, MacCaige, McCaig, McCaige, MacKaig, McKaig, MacKeague, McKeague, McKeage, MacTague, McTague, and could even change between father and son. Also, translations from the Gaelic varied, and sometimes there were preferences for different spellings because of a division in the family, or for religious or patriotic reasons. Church officials and clerks also contributed by spelling the name phonetically, sometimes several different ways in the lifetime of the same person.

        The last invasion of Ireland occurred about 1000 B. C. by a Celtic race from the South, likely from the area of Spain. The books by O’ Hart state that these people, the Milesians, were descended from King Milesius of Spain. He turned his attention northward to Ireland to fulfill an ancient Druidic prophecy during a 26 year famine, that he believed was his punishment for not attempting to fulfill it earlier. He sent an army to explore the fertile island and when he found that his uncle had been murdered by three resident Irish Kings, Milesius gathered another army to take revenge. He died, though, before he embarked on the trip, leaving his remaining eight sons to conquer Ireland.

        The great Gaelic family of Teague emerged in later years in county Galway where they were descended from a branch of the distinguished O’ Kellys who were descended from the great Irish King, Niall of the Nine Hostages. The MacTeiges were dispersed when Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, invaded Ireland in 1172, and established new territories in county Mayo and Donegal. The Clan Chief, Sir Cormack MacTeige became the Lord of Muskerry and his descendants divided into one branch called the "Masters of Morne" and the Teiges of Ballea, Castlemore, Courtbreac, and Clouthroe. Sir Cormack MacTeige was elected Sheriff of Cork and died at Blarney Castle in 1583. Notable among the family at this time was Sir Cormack MacTeige of Blarney Castle.

        In about 1167 Dermott MacMurrough, King of Leinster, was defeated in a feud and requested aid from King Henry II of England, who opportunistically allowed him to enlist the help of his subjects. Richard deClare, or Strongbow, became Dermott’s greatest ally. He landed in Ireland in 1170 and solidified the earlier victories of other Norman Lords with the presence of his great force. The success of the Normans in Ireland prompted the King of England to arrive with his own army in 1172, and reaffirm the allegiance of his subjects, as well as establish himself as the overlord of the other kings and chiefs in Ireland. He succeeded, and in so doing, permanently linked England to the affairs of Ireland.

        In 1845, the potato crops failed. Do to a number of social and political factors, a high percentage of Ireland’s population at that time, were subsistence farmers with large families, that depended on the annual potato crop for food and income to pay the rent on their farms. The famine, that resulted from repeated crop failures, lasted from 1846-1851, during which hundreds of thousands of people starved, and even more were forced to emigrate to the colonies.

        Many Irish joined the armada of ships that sailed from Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Holyhead, Liverpool, and Glasgow, bound for the New World. Some called these ships the "White Sails;" others, more realistically called them "Coffin Ships." Often holding more than four times the capacity they were designed for, up to 40% of the passengers died of disease and the elements.

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