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Linn History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Linn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

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

Early Origins of the Linn family

The surname Linn was first found in Tuitre (now Antrim,) where they were Lords of Tuitre. 2 However, the Linn 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 Linn family

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

Linn Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Linn were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Flynn, O'Flynn, Flinn, Lynn, O'Lynn, O'Linn and many more.

Early Notables of the Linn family

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

Linn Ranking

In the United States, the name Linn is the 2,283^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3

Linn migration to the United States +

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 due 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 States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Linn family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Linn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joseph Linn, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 4

Linn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter Linn, who arrived in America in 1739 4
Adam Linn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 4
Johann Nickel Linn, who arrived in America in 1753 4
Philip Henry Linn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 4
Nicholas Linn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Linn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Linn, who arrived in America in 1811 4
Daniel Linn, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 4
Robert Linn, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1818 4
John Linn, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1830 4
Andley Linn, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Linn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Edward Linn, who landed in Mississippi in 1903 4

Linn migration to Australia +

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

Linn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Masters Linn, (b. 1787), aged 29, English brick layer who was convicted in Sussex, England for life for larceny, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1827 5
Matthew Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 6
Margaret Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 6
Christian Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 6
James Linn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Linn 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:

Linn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Jane Linn, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "British Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 30th August 1859 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Linn (post 1700) +

Roger Linn, American inventor of the Linn LM-1, the first programmable digital drum machine, recipient of a Grammy Award for Lifetime Technical Achievement
Michael Linn, American businessman and oilman, founder of Linn Energy, LLC an independent oil and natural gas company based in Houston, Texas in 2003
Richard Linn (b. 1944), American Senior United States Circuit Judge, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1999-2012)
Ray Linn (1920-1996), American jazz trumpeter
Rex Maynard Linn (b. 1956), American film and television actor, best known for his role as Frank Tripp in the television series CSI: Miami
Robert P. Linn (1908-2004), American politician, second longest-serving mayor in the United States-58 years
Lewis Fields Linn (1796-1843), American Democratic U.S. Senator for the state of Missouri, eponym of Mount Linn, California
John Blair Linn (1777-1804), American poet
Bambi Linn (b. 1926), born Bambina Linnemeier, American dancer, choreographer, and actress
Holman Harry Linn, American inventor of the Linn tractor, a heavy duty civilian half-track or crawler tractor
... (Another 5 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html