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Irish surname
Mac Lochlainn · 'son of Lochlainn' (a name of Norse origin)
McLaughlin comes from the Irish 'son of Lochlainn', a personal name of Norse origin. Woulfe (1923) gives MacLoughlin as a form of Mac Lochlainn, and MacLaughlin as a form of Mac Lachlainn, 'the Scottish and Ulster form of Mac Lochlainn'. He calls the Mac Lochlainns the senior branch of the northern Ui Neill, the most powerful family in Ulster before the 13th century, seated in Inishowen. The same English spellings also stand for other Irish names. In Matheson's 1890 survey McLaughlin was the 21st commonest surname in Ireland, about 17,500 people.
Mac Lochlainn: senior branch of the northern Ui Neill, the most powerful family in Ulster before the 13th century, seated in Inishowen. A branch settled in Mayo in the 17th century; apparently also a Leitrim family following the O'Rourkes. Woulfe says the Meath Ó Maoilsheachlainn (O Melaghlin) are now also anglicised MacLaughlin, MacLoughlin.[1][3]
McLoughlin · MacLoughlin · MacLaughlin · MacLochlin · MacLoghlin · Loughlin · MacGloughlin · MacGlaughlin[6]
Woulfe gives Mac Lachlainn (MacLachlan, MacLaughlin) as 'the Scottish and Ulster form of Mac Lochlainn' and says 'the Scottish clan of this name was seated at Strathlachlan in Argyleshire'. He does not say whether the Scottish clan and the Inishowen Mac Lochlainns share descent.[2][1]
The name appears as 'MAC LAUGLIN' in the 'List of Names of Irish Septs as given in the Book of Arms, compiled by Sir James Terry, Athlone Herald (1690)', as printed by Matheson. The list gives sept names only; it does not describe any arms, and it does not mean that everyone named McLaughlin is entitled to a coat of arms.[7]
The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McLaughlin 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.
Woulfe gives Mac Lochlainn, 'son of Lochlainn', a personal name of Norse origin.[1]
Woulfe seats the Mac Lochlainns in Inishowen, with a 17th-century branch in Mayo. In 1890 about 75 per cent of 'McLaughlin' births were in Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry, while 'McLoughlin' was chiefly in Dublin and Connaught.[1][6]
They share a Gaelic name. Woulfe treats Mac Lachlainn (MacLachlan, MacLaughlin) as 'the Scottish and Ulster form of Mac Lochlainn'. He says the Scottish clan of this name was seated at Strathlachlan in Argyleshire, while he seats the Mac Lochlainns in Inishowen, and he does not say whether the two families share descent.[2][1]
They overlap. Matheson counts them together in 1890 but found them in different areas. Woulfe also says the Meath name Ó Maoilsheachlainn is now anglicised MacLaughlin or MacLoughlin, so not every McLoughlin is a Mac Lochlainn.[6][3]
In Matheson's survey of the 1890 Births Index, McLaughlin was 21st of the hundred principal surnames, with an estimated 17,500 people.[5]
Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).
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Mclaughlin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00
Mclaughlin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00