English and Irish (of Norman origin), and northern French: habitational name from any of several places in northern France, such as Nogent-sur-Oise, named with Latin Novientum, apparently an altered form of a Gaulish name meaning ‘new settlement’.
FOREBEARS The Anglo-Norman family of this name is descended from Fulke de Bellesme, lord of Nogent in Normandy, who was granted large estates around Winchester after the Conquest. His greatgrandson was Hugh de Nugent (died 1213), who went to Ireland with Hugh de Lacy, and was granted lands in Bracklyn, County Westmeath. The family formed itself into a clan on the Irish model, of which the chief bore the hereditary title of Uinsheadun (Irish Uinnseadún), from their original seat at Winchester. They have been Earls of Westmeath since 1621. The name is now a common one in Ireland, and has been adopted there by some who have no connection with the clan.
