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Origin Displayed: Irish

Where did the Irish Nolan family come from? What is the Irish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Nolan family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

Throughout history, very few Irish surnames have exclusively maintained their original forms. Before being translated into English, Nolan appeared as O Nuallain, which is derived from the Irish gaelic word "nuall," meaning "shout."

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Nolan dating from that time include Nolan, O'Nolan, Nowlan, O'Nowlan, O'Nowland, Knowlan, Noland and many more.

First found in county Carlow (Irish: Cheatharlach) a small landlocked area located in the province of Leinster in the South East of Ireland, where they were seated from ancient times.

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute do to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United Sates and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Nolan family relocated to North American shores quite early: Catherine Noland, who sailed to Maryland in 1655; Darby and Ann Noland held a 60 acre estate in Maryland in 1688; Peirce Noland leased a 300 acre estate in Maryland in 1688.

For more information on the last name Nolan, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name Nolan
  • Descendants of Cornet George Barton in Ireland and the United States with Allied Nolan/Lalor/Kinsella Lines in Ireland and the United States by Louise Egan Peterson.
  • In the Mood for Stardom: The Nolans by Kim Treasurer.

Some noteworthy people of the name Nolan
  • Dick Nolan (b. 1932), American football player & coach
  • Thomas Nolan, American geologist
  • Bernadette Nolan (b. 1960), Irish entertainer & actress
  • Bob Nolan (1908-1980), Canadian singer-songwriter & actor
  • Dennis E Nolan (1872-1956), U.S. Army general
  • Lord Michael Nolan (1928-2007), Baron Nolan, British judge
  • Sir Sidney Nolan (b. 1917), Australian painter, illustrator and theatrical designer
  • George Brendan Nolan, original name of George Brent


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Nolan family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the Nolan coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Nolan genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Nolan Family Crest Products


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Armorial histories for the name Nolan.
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Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Nolan.
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Family Crest for the name Nolan.
Family Tree emphasing the family crest for the name Nolan.
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Packages proudly displaying the Nolan coat of arms.
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Surname Histories for the name Nolan.
Travel Mugs revealing the Nolan family crest.
Popular Products
Armorial History With Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms & Surname History Package
Family Crest Image (jpg) Heritage Series - 300 DPI
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Armorial History with Frame
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The Nolan Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Nolan Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

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