Show ContentsMacLaughlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the MacLaughlin family were born. Their name comes from the personal name Lachlann. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Lachlainn, denoting the son of Lachlann. Although most feel Lachlan Mor, a great Chief who lived by Loch Fyne in the thirteenth century, is the Clan founder, the legend of descent from the ancient Gaelic King, Niall of the Nine Hostages, who reigned in 400 AD, offers some clues as to the clan's early origins.

Lochlann, in old Gaelic means literally, 'Norway,' and was the favorite Christian name of the royal house of O'Neill in Northern Ireland, a house descended from Niall of the Nine hostages, and said to be the family with the oldest history in Europe. A branch of the O'Neill's took the surname MacLochlain and soon became rival Kings to the O'Neills.

King Brian O'Neill slew the last King Domnall MacLochlainn. His son Anrothan, who was ancestor of the MacLachlans in Scotland, married the daughter of the King of Scots, thereby gaining the inheritance of Cowall and Knapdale in Scotland. Anrothan MacLachlan was progenitor of the MacLachlans of Strathlachlan, the Lamonts, the Lyons, the MacSorleys, the MacEwans, and the MacMillans. It was in the mid-twelfth century that each of these branches separated into distinct entities.

Early Origins of the MacLaughlin family

The surname MacLaughlin was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where this Clan first settled in Scotland in 1100 when Lachlan was heir of Fergus, Lord of Galloway. In 1238, a charter recorded Lachlan Mor's father increasing the endowment to Paisley Abbey.

When, in 1292, King John Baliol erected Argyll into a sheriffdom, Gillescop MacLachlan was one of the twelve principal barons whose land it encompassed. In 1296, Ewen MacLachlan was forced to swear loyalty to the English King Edward I, but this loyalty was formally changed back to Scotland in 1305, when Gillescop MacLachlan, like his neighbors the Campbells, swore allegiance to Robert the Bruce. Gillescop was a member of the Barons of Bruce's first parliament at St. Andrews, in 1308. [1]

King John of England (reigned: 1199-1216) was also known as John Lackland from the Norman French, "Johan sanz Terre" or "John without land."

Early History of the MacLaughlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacLaughlin research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1292, 1600 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacLaughlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLaughlin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. MacLaughlin has been spelled MacLachlan, Lachlan, MacLachlane, McGlothan, McGlothin, MacLauchlan, MacLauchlane, MacLauchlin, MacLaughlin, Lauchlan and many more.

Early Notables of the MacLaughlin family

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

Ireland Migration of the MacLaughlin family to Ireland

Some of the MacLaughlin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States MacLaughlin migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first MacLaughlins to arrive on North American shores:

MacLaughlin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William MacLaughlin, who arrived in Maryland in 1648 [2]
MacLaughlin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jeremiah MacLaughlin, who settled in Virginia in 1749
MacLaughlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ann MacLaughlin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [2]
  • Benj MacLaughlin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [2]
  • Biddy MacLaughlin, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 [2]
  • Philip MacLaughlin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [2]
  • Elea MacLaughlin, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia MacLaughlin migration to Australia +

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

MacLaughlin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James MacLaughlin, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 30th September 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name MacLaughlin (post 1700) +

  • John MacLaughlin (1890-1961), American fencer at the 1912 Summer Olympics
  • Don MacLaughlin (1906-1986), American soap opera actor, best known for his role as the lawyer Chris Hughes on As the World Turns in 1956, which he played until his death
  • Harry Hunter MacLaughlin (1927-2005), United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota


The MacLaughlin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortis et fidus
Motto Translation: Brave and trusty.


  1. 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)
  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden


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