Show ContentsFling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Fling originally appeared in Gaelic as O Floinn, which is derived from the word "flann," which means "ruddy."

Early Origins of the Fling family

The surname Fling was first found in Tuitre (now Antrim,) where they were Lords of Tuitre. [1] However, the Fling surname arose independently in several parts of Ireland. Perhaps the oldest line were a Sept of O Floin in Armagh, Ulster, where they were a senior branch of Clanna Rury of Ulidia, claiming descent from King Colla Uais, the famed 4th century Irish King, who in turn was descended from the Heremon royal line.

The family claim descent from "Flann ("flann:" Irish blood), meaning "the man with the red complexion:" his son; a quo O'Flainn, and the name of the mountain Sliabh-ui-Fhloinn. Feah O'Flynn; his son; the first of the family that assumed the sirname." [1]

Early History of the Fling family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fling research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the year 1255 is included under the topic Early Fling History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fling Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Fling family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Flynn, O'Flynn, Flinn, Lynn, O'Lynn, O'Linn and many more.

Early Notables of the Fling family

More information is included under the topic Early Fling Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Fling migration to the United States +

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Fling family in North America:

Fling Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jane Fling, who landed in Virginia in 1650 [2]
  • Philip Fling, who arrived in Maryland in 1677 [2]
  • Bryan Fling, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 [2]
Fling Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Fling, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [2]
  • Kath Fling, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [2]
  • William Fling, who arrived in New England in 1737 [2]
  • Michael Fling, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1763 [2]
  • John Fling, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1765 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fling Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Fling, who landed in America in 1808 [2]
  • Conrad Fling, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1846 [2]

Canada Fling migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fling Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mary Fling, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr.WilliamFling U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 444 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York [3]
Fling Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Jeremiah Fling, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833

Australia Fling migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Fling Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Fling, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Stamboul"

Contemporary Notables of the name Fling (post 1700) +

  • Lewis W. Fling, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 11th District, 1871-73 [4]
  • John W. Fling Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1924 [4]
  • John Fling, American politician, Postmaster at Brooke Court House, Virginia, 1805-16 [4]


  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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