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Irish surname

Flynn: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Floinn · 'descendant of Flann' (red)

Flynn and O'Flynn are anglicised forms of the Irish Ó Floinn, 'descendant of Flann'. Woulfe (1923) describes several distinct families of the name, in Roscommon, Mayo and Cork, and an Ulster family whose name became Ó Loinn (O'Lynn). In 1890 Flynn births were most common in Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Roscommon and Leitrim.

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Coat of arms associated with the Flynn surname
Irish formÓ Floinn
Meaning'descendant of Flann' (red)
CountiesRoscommon, Mayo, Cork, Antrim
Other spellings6

Origin of the Flynn name

Woulfe calls Ó Floinn 'the name of several distinct families'. The best known: chiefs of Siol Maolruain in west Roscommon; a Tirawley family at Crossmolina, Mayo; Ó Floinn of Ardagh, chiefs of Ui Baghamhna (Ibawn) in Cork; lords of Muscraidhe Ui Fhloinn in Muskerry, Cork; and Ó Floinn of Ui Tuirtre, later Ó Loinn.[1]

  1. 984Death of Eochaidh O'Flinn, eminent Irish writer.[4]
  2. 1177Ó Loinn of Ui Tuirtre defeat John de Courcy in their territory.[2]
  3. early 14th centuryMuskerry O'Flynns dispossessed by the MacCarthys of Blarney.[1]
  4. 1368After this year the Ó Loinn of Ui Tuirtre disappear from history.[2]
  5. 1890Birth indexes: 319 Flynn births, 140 of them in Munster.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. RoscommonChiefs of Siol Maolruain (parish of Kiltulagh and part of Kilkeevin); another family were erenaghs near Boyle.[1]
Co. MayoSeated in Magh hEleog, parish of Crossmolina; a branch were erenaghs of St. Tighearnan's at Errew.[1][5]
Co. CorkTwo families: at Ardagh Castle between Skibbereen and Baltimore, and lords of Muskerrylinn, between Blarney and Ballyvourney.[1]
Co. AntrimAs Ó Loinn, chiefs of Ui Tuirtre in the baronies of Upper and Lower Toome.[2]
Co. CavanIn 1890 the only Ulster county where Flynn was found to any appreciable extent.[3]

Notable people named Flynn

Eochaidh O'Flinndied 984Eminent Irish writer; several of his works survive in the Books of Leinster, Ballymote and Lecain.[4]

Other spellings

O'Flynn · Flinn · O Floine · O Floinge · O'Lynn · Lynn[1]

The Flynn coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Flynn 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.

Flynn crest gifts

Clan Flynn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapMW42 Classic Cap - Flynn Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Flynn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Flynn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap GU45 Flynn Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Flynn Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

Flynn surname: questions

What does the surname Flynn mean?

Woulfe gives Flynn as an anglicised form of Ó Floinn, 'descendant of Flann', and glosses Flann as 'red'.[1]

Where in Ireland is Flynn from?

Woulfe describes several separate families: in west Roscommon, at Crossmolina in Mayo, and two in Co. Cork (Ardagh, near Skibbereen, and Muskerry, between Blarney and Ballyvourney). In 1890 Flynn births were most common in Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Roscommon and Leitrim.[1][3][5]

Are Flynn and O'Flynn the same name?

Yes. Woulfe lists O'Flynn, Flynn and Flinn as anglicised forms of the same Irish surname, Ó Floinn.[1]

Are Flynn and Lynn related?

Woulfe says Ó Loinn (O'Lynn, Lynn) is a variant of Ó Floinn, caused by the aspiration of the initial f. It was the name of a famous Ulster family who were chiefs of Ui Tuirtre in Co. Antrim.[2]

Sources

  1. Ó Floinn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/of/o-floinn.php
  2. Ó Loinn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/ol/o-loinn.php
  3. Flynn — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/flynn.php
  4. Eochaidh O'Flinn — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/EochaidhOFlinn.php
  5. Crossmolina — A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (Samuel Lewis, 1837), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/topog/C/Crossmolina-Tyrawley-Mayo.php

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