Show ContentsLynch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Lynch Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lynch

What does the name Lynch mean?

The Anglo-Norman Conquest of Ireland lead by Strongbow introduced the first non-Gaelic elements into Irish nomenclature. These Anglo-Normans brought some traditions to Ireland that were not readily found within Gaelic system of hereditary surnames. One of the best examples of this is the local surname. Local surnames, such as Lynch, were taken from the name of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. These surnames were very common in England, but were almost non-existent within Ireland previous to the conquest. The earliest surnames of this type came from Normandy, but as the Normans moved, they often created names in reference to where they actually resided. Therefore, some settlers eventually took names from Irish places. Originally, these place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname, if the place name began with a vowel, or was eliminated entirely. The Lynch family originally lived in some location which is no longer known. The original form of the Norman surname Lynch was de Lench. However, there is also a native Irish family named Lynch. This surname, which was originally Ó Loingsigh, is derived from the Gaelic word loingseach, which means mariner.

Early Origins of the Lynch family

The surname Lynch was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they were granted lands by Strongbow after the English Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Lynch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lynch research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1488, 1489, 1490, 1507, 1611, 1623, 1669, 1676, 1682, 1684, 1691 and 1713 are included under the topic Early Lynch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lynch Spelling Variations

Medieval scribes and church officials spelt names simply the way they sounded, which explains the various name spelling variations of the name Lynch that were encountered when researching that surname. The many spelling variations included: Lynch, Linch, O'Lynch and others.

Early Notables of the Lynch family

  • Geoffrey (Geffere) Lynch (fl. 1488-1489), 4th Mayor of Galway
  • John Lynch fitz John, fifth Mayor of Galway (1489-1490)
  • Robuck Lynch, sixth Mayor of Galway (1489-1490)
  • Arthur Lynch (Mayor), 22nd Mayor of Galway, (died 1507), a member of one of The Tribes of Galway
  • Richard Lynch (1611-1676), an Irish theologian and Jesuit
  • Sir Henry Lynch, 3rd Baronet (died 1691), an Irish landowner and judge
  • Sir Thomas Lynch (died 1684), English soldier and diplomat, Governor of Jamaica (1682)
  • James Lynch (c.1623-1713), an Irish Roman Catholic clergyman, Archbishop of Tuam (1669-1713.)

Lynch World Ranking

the United States, the name Lynch is the 235th most popular surname with an estimated 111,915 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Lynch is ranked the 519th most popular surname with an estimated 9,396 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Lynch is the 177th popular surname with an estimated 227 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Lynch as 167th with 18,646 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Lynch as 242nd with 2,457 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Lynch as 254th with 23,487 people. 6

Lynch migration to the United States +

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Lynch:

Lynch Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jeremiah Lynch, who settled in Virginia in 1638
  • Jerimiah Lynch, who landed in Virginia in 1638 8
  • Nehemiah Lynch, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 8
  • Cornelius Lynch, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 8
Lynch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Francis Lynch, who settled in Georgia in 1733
  • Francis Lynch, who landed in Georgia in 1735 8
  • Head Lynch, who arrived in Virginia in 1739 8
  • Christopher Lynch, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 8
  • Bamaby Lynch, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lynch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patk Lynch, aged 27, who arrived in America in 1803 8
  • William Lynch, who landed in America in 1805 8
  • Ann Lynch, who landed in America in 1805 8
  • Martha Lynch, who landed in America in 1805 8
  • Thomas Lynch, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1806 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lynch migration to Canada +

Lynch Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Edward Lynch, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. James Lynch U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 9
  • Mr. John Lynch U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
Lynch Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Lynch, who landed in Canada in 1823
  • Michael Lynch, aged 25, who landed in Canada in 1823
  • Julia Lynch, aged 22, who landed in Canada in 1823
  • Patrick Lynch settled at Prescott Ontario in 1825 with his wife and seven children
  • Catherine Lynch, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1829
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lynch migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
Second Fleet
  • Mr. William Lynch, British settler convicted in Somerset, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Third Fleet
  • Mr. Humphrey Lynch, (b. 1763), aged 24, Irish settler convicted in New Sarum (Salisbury), Wiltshire on 5th March 1785, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 8
  • Miss Ann Lynch, (b. 1746), aged 41, Irish settler convicted in Bristol, England on 30th March 1786, sentenced for 14 years for receiving stollen good, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 8
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Lynch Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr.Lawrence Lynch, British settler who was convicted in Devon, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Fortune" on 31st October 1812, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Miss Catherine Lynch, (b. 1794), aged 19, Irish convict who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Humphrey Lynch, aged 52, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Alexander" on November 4, 1815, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Miss Bridget Lynch, (b. 1792), aged 26, Irish house keeper who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr.John Lynch, (b. 1800), aged 19, Irish coachman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lynch 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:

Lynch Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Peter Lynch, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
  • Henry Lynch, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Daniel Lynch, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
  • John Lynch, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
  • Mr. John Lynch, British settler referred to as the Parkhurst Boys travelling from London aboard the ship "Mandarin" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th November 1843, he had been taught trades and pardoned to live in New Zealand 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lynch migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16
Lynch Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
  • W H Lynch, who landed in Jamaica in 1806 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Lynch (post 1700) +

  • Charles Lynch (1736-1796), Virginia planter and American Revolutionary who headed an irregular court in Virginia to punish Loyalist supporters of the British during the American Revolutionary War for whom many believe the term "lynching" and "lynch law" was derived
  • Clifford Alan Lynch (1954-2025), American computer scientist, director of the Coalition for Networked Information, adjunct professor at the UC Berkeley School of Information
  • David Lynch (1946-2025), American Honorary Academy Award winning movie director and screenwriter, best known for his work on Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive
  • Laura Lynch (1958-2023), American lead vocalist for the Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks (1988-1995)
  • James Robert "Jim" Lynch (1945-2022), American NFL and AFL football linebacker, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
  • John Lynch (1927-2018), English Professor of Latin American History at the University of London from Boldon, County Durham
  • Charles Lynch (1783-1853), American Democratic and Whig politician, 8th Governor of Mississippi in 1833
  • Jay Lynch (1945-2017), American cartoonist, the main writer for Bazooka Joe comics from 1967 to 1990
  • Margaret Frances “Peg” Lynch (1916-2015), American writer and actor, and creator of the radio and television sitcom Ethel and Albert; she wrote over 11,000 scripts for radio and television
  • ... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Benjamin R Lynch (1965-1985), American Private 1st Class from Macon, Georgia, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 17
  • Mr. Stephen Maxwell Lynch (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Moonah, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 18
  • Mr. James F Lynch (b. 1909), Irish Supply Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Inishoewn, County Donegal, Ireland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19
  • Mr. Augustine P Lynch (b. 1917), Irish Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Cobh, County Cork, Ireland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
  • Mr. Michael Francis Lynch, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 20
  • ... (Another 9 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Lynch +

  • The Loy (also Lynch) Family in America by Jennie E. Stewart.
  • Scharnhorst, Lynch, Barnett, Thornton by Frances Carter.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  8. 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)
  9. 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
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
  11. Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Alexander voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1815 with 12 passengers. Retrieved from Alexander voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1815 with 12 passengers
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bencoolen
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  17. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  18. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  19. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  20. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html

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