O Flynn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name O Flynn originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Floinn, which is derived from the word "flann," which means "ruddy." 1

Early Origins of the O Flynn family

The surname O Flynn was first found in Tuitre (now Antrim,) where they were Lords of Tuitre. 2 However, the O Flynn surname arose independently in several parts of Ireland. Perhaps the oldest line were a Sept of Ó 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." 2

Early History of the O Flynn family

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

O Flynn Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name O Flynn revealed many variations, including Flynn, O'Flynn, Flinn, Lynn, O'Lynn, O'Linn and many more.

Early Notables of the O Flynn family

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

O Flynn migration to the United States +

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O Flynn or a variant listed above, including:

O Flynn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Daniel O'Flynn, aged 28, who settled in America from Kinsale, in 1905
Caroline O'Flynn, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Newry, Ireland, in 1909
Andrew O'Flynn, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Plymouth, England, in 1911
Anne O'Flynn, aged 26, who landed in America from Castle Island, Ireland, in 1912
Annie O'Flynn, aged 18, who settled in America from Headford, Ireland, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name O Flynn (post 1700) +

Damian O'Flynn (1907-1982), American actor of film and television
Cornelius O'Flynn, American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1857-58 3
Joan O’Flynn, Irish 28th President of the Camogie Association (2009–2012)
Andrew O'Flynn (b. 1946), Irish retired hurler who played as a full-forward for the Cork (1967-1968)
Paul O'Flynn (b. 1985), Irish hurler for Cork (2009-)
Noel O'Flynn (b. 1951), former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork North–Central constituency from 1997 to 2011
John O'Flynn (b. 1982), Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Limerick
Liam O'Flynn (b. 1945), Irish folk musician and uilleann piper
Stephen O'Flynn (b. 1982), Irish footballer
Francis Edward O’Flynn (1872-1942), New Zealand politician, member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1937 to 1942, father of Frank O'Flynn
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html