Lorigan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The founding heritage of the Lorigan family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Lorigan comes from when one of the family worked as a person who worked as a lorimer which is an Old French word used to refer to those individuals who made stirrup irons, spurs and other metal articles that people used with horses.

As an occupational name, records of the name are widespread and in early records more often than not, the name was seen in its Lation form as by example, the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed Robert and John Lauremarius, Normandy 1180-1195. 1

However one source notes that the name could have been derived from "Goscelinus Loremarius, one of the Conqueror's tenants in chief, mentioned in Domesday [Book], co. Essex. " 2

Early Origins of the Lorigan family

The surname Lorigan was first found in Essex where the aforementioned Goscelinus Loremarius was listed shortly after the Conquest.

The use of the early Latin spelling was widespread as in Scotland, "Hugh Lorimarius and his heirs had a grant of lands near Perth from William the Lion (reign 1165-1214) for services performed by him. Matthew Lorimer, a descendant of Hugh, sold the lands to William de Len, burgess of Perth, by whom they were gifted to the Abbey of Scone in the reign of Alexander II. " 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Adam le Lorimer, Salop (Shropshire); Richard le Lorimer, Essex; Thomas Lormar, Essex; and William Lorinar, Oxfordshire. 4

Gervase Lorimarius, or Sadler, was Bailiff of Norwich in 1239. 5

Early History of the Lorigan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lorigan research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1643, 1677, 1702, 1706, 1712, 1779 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lorigan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorigan Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Lorigan has been spelled many different ways, including Lorimer, Lorrimer, Lorrimore, Lorriman, Lorrimoor, Lorrimar, Larimore and many more.

Early Notables of the Lorigan family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Larimore, (1677-1706) also Laramore, Larrimore, Laremore, Laremoor, American privateer and pirate active in the Caribbean and off the eastern seaboard of the American colonies.He was instrumental in helping...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lorigan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lorigan family to Ireland

Some of the Lorigan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorigan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Lorigan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Patrick Lorigan, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840

Contemporary Notables of the name Lorigan (post 1700) +

William G. Lorigan, American jurist, Justice of the Supreme Court of California (1903-1919)

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print