The Clan/Sept History

Spelling variations of this family name include: Naughten, Nachtain, McNaughten,
Naughton, Naghten, McNaughton, Norton, Naughtan, Nochtin, Nochton, Knochton,
Connaughten, Connaughton, O'Naughton, O'Naghten, O'Nachten, McNaghten and many
more.
First found in Clare, where they were anciently seated as an important
Dalcassian sept of the Ui Maine related to the Mulallys. The Lallys and the
O'Naghtens were in turn chiefs of the Moenmoy from which they were driven in the
English invasion of 1172. They settled in Tollendal where they became tenants of
Lord Bermingham. Here they became Chiefs of the Fews. Neachtan, the progenitor,
about 850 A.D., was the grandson of Aeneas Lally. Irish history was greatly
influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish
Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost
indistinguishable. Great confusion reigns between the Scottish clan McNaughten
(vide). Some learned scholars of the Irish McNaghtens claim to be descended of
the Pictish race, being one of three clans of the old Maormors of Moray, Kings
of the Picts who claimed title to the Kingdom of Scotland. Descended from
Neachtan by five generations was Connor Catha Brian O'Neachtain who fought
beside Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were:
Alexander McNaughton, who settled in America in 1738; Laughlin Naghten, who
arrived in America in 1739; Agnes McNaughton, who arrived in New York in 1775.