Show ContentsLorcyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Many variations of the name Lorcyn have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Lorcain, which is derived from the old personal name Lorc, which means rough or fierce. 1

Early Origins of the Lorcyn family

The surname Lorcyn was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Lorcyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lorcyn research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1528, 1564, 1580, 1591, 1609 and 1619 are included under the topic Early Lorcyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorcyn Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Lorcyn 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. Larkin, O'Larkin and others.

Early Notables of the Lorcyn family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Thomas Lorkin (c.1528–1591), an English churchman, academic and physician, Regius Professor of Physic at Cambridge from 1564; and William...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lorcyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lorcyn family

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 Lorcyn family relocated to North American shores quite early: William Larkin, who settled in Boston in 1630; Elizabeth Larkin, who settled in Virginia in 1637; Benjamin Larkin settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1720.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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