The Higgins Family Crest mug. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.
Eminently suited for a proper brew! Whether it’s a gift to mark a milestone birthday, a new home, or Christmas morning — here’s an artwork with history in your hands.
The origin of the name Higgins
Higgins (O'Higgins) is an ancient Gaelic Irish surname derived from Ó hUiginn (from Old Norse uiging, meaning "viking" or "sea-rover"). The Ó hUiginn sept were world-renowned hereditary poets, bards, and scholars to the O'Conor Kings of Connacht and the O'Neills of Ulster, holding ancestral lordships across Sligo, Westmeath, and Galway. Recorded extensively in the Annals of the Four Masters, the family exerted immense intellectual influence across medieval Ireland.
The symbolism of the Higgins coat of arms
Visually pure and protective, the Higgins coat of arms features an argent / silver or white shield powdered with black teardrop droplets (gouttes de poix), charged with a central broad black horizontal band (fess) bearing three silver castles with golden gates. In classical heraldry, the silver shield denotes sincerity and peace, while the black droplets represent deep wisdom, tears of devotion, and unwavering constancy under trial. The black horizontal band and three silver castles symbolise architectural fortitude, grand manorial hospitality, and fortress defense of Gaelic soil. Positioned above the shield, the crest displays a silver castle surmounted by a golden griffin holding a silver sword aloft—symbolising acute vigilance, high intellect, and armed readiness. Below, the motto scroll displays Pro patria, translating to "For my country." The formal recognition of this coat of arms was registered in the Ulster Office of Arms at Dublin Castle and documented in Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland.
Historical figures
Tadhg Mór Ó hUiginn (d. 1315): Celebrated Gaelic Chief Poet of Ireland recorded in early Irish monastic annals.
Eleanor Higgins (17th Century): Landowner and benefactor recorded in Connacht land inquisitions.
Bernardo O'Higgins (1778–1842): Legendary South American independence leader and Supreme Director of Chile (descended from the Sligo Higgins lineage).
Product details
- High quality white ceramic mug with the family crest printed two sides
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.3″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order
This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.
About the artist
Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful gifts for family occasions.
Don’t see your family name?
I’m always happy to add new crests and products to the collection, so please get in touch if you can’t find what you're looking for. ⚜️
