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Irish surname

Larkin: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Lorcáin · 'descendant of Lorcán' (diminutive of lorc, fierce)

Woulfe (1923) gives Larkin as an anglicised form of Ó Lorcáin, 'descendant of Lorcán', the name of several distinct families in different parts of Ireland: in Leinster (Wexford), Oriel (Armagh), Ui Maine (Galway), Meath and Tipperary. In 1890 Larkin births were found chiefly in Dublin, Armagh, Galway and Tipperary.

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Coat of arms associated with the Larkin surname
Irish formÓ Lorcáin
Meaning'descendant of Lorcán' (diminutive of lorc, fierce)
CountiesWexford, Armagh, Galway, Tipperary
Other spellings4

Origin of the Larkin name

Woulfe names several distinct Ó Lorcáin families: of Leinster, of its royal race, seated in the barony of Forth, south-east Wexford, until dispossessed soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion; of Oriel (Armagh), whose head is described as lord of Ui Niallain, Farney and West Ui Breasail; of Ui Maine (Galway); of Meath; and of Tipperary, whose head was erenagh of Lorrha.[1]

  1. 1867Allen, O'Brien and Larkin executed at Manchester, 23 November.[3][4]
  2. 189085 Larkin births registered, chiefly in Dublin, Armagh, Galway and Tipperary.[2]
  3. 1911James Larkin publishes the newspaper the Irish Worker (May).[5]
  4. 1913Larkin and James Connolly establish the Irish Citizen Army, 19 November.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. WexfordÓ Lorcáin of Leinster were seated in the barony of Forth until dispossessed after the Anglo-Norman invasion.[1]
Co. ArmaghÓ Lorcáin of Oriel, 'still numerous in Co. Armagh'; a principal Larkin county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. GalwayÓ Lorcáin of Ui Maine, same stock as the O'Maddens; a principal Larkin county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. TipperaryAn ecclesiastical Ó Lorcáin family whose head was anciently erenagh of Lorrha; a principal Larkin county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. MeathThe head of the Meath Ó Lorcáin family was anciently lord of Caille Follamain.[1]
Co. DublinFirst county named for Larkin births in 1890.[2]
Co. DonegalMacFirbis mentions an Ó Lorcáin family of the Cinel Eoghain there.[1]

Notable people named Larkin

Michael Larkind. 1867Tailor from near Banagher, Co. Offaly; one of the three 'Manchester Martyrs' hanged on 23 November 1867.[4][3]
James Larkin1874–1947'Big Jim', born in Liverpool of Irish parents; labour leader who formed the Irish Transport & General Workers Union.[5]

Other spellings

Larkins · Larken · Lorkin · Lorkan[1]

The Larkin coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Larkin surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Larkin crest gifts

Clan Olarkin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapFM98 Classic Cap - Olarkin Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Olarkin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Larkin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapDC87 Classic Cap - Larkin Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Larkin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Larkin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap FF58 Larkin Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Larkin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Larkin surname: questions

What does the surname Larkin mean?

Woulfe gives Larkin as a form of Ó Lorcáin, 'descendant of Lorcán', Lorcán being a diminutive of lorc, 'fierce'.[1]

Is Larkin an Irish name?

Woulfe lists Larkin, Larkins and Larken as anglicised forms of the Irish surname Ó Lorcáin, borne by several distinct families in different parts of Ireland.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Larkin name from?

Woulfe names Ó Lorcáin families in Wexford (barony of Forth), Armagh (Oriel), Galway (Ui Maine), Meath and Tipperary. In 1890 Larkin births were found chiefly in Dublin, Armagh, Galway and Tipperary.[1][2]

Who was Jim Larkin?

James ('Big Jim') Larkin (1874–1947) was born in Liverpool of Irish parents. He worked as an organiser for the National Union of Dock Labourers in Liverpool and Belfast, established it in Dublin, then formed the Irish Transport & General Workers Union, and with James Connolly set up the Irish Citizen Army on 19 November 1913.[5]

Sources

  1. Ó Lorcáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ol/o-lorcain.php
  2. Larkin — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/larkin.php
  3. William Philip Allen — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/WilliamPhilipAllen.php
  4. Who were the Manchester Martyrs?, History Ireland. historyireland.com/who-were-the-manchester-martyrs/
  5. Jim Larkin and the Irish Citizen Army — 1916 Rising online exhibition, National Library of Ireland. nli.ie/1916/exhibition/en/content/stagesetters/other/jimlarkin/

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).