Show ContentsLoughlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Before Irish names were translated into English, Loughlin had a Gaelic form of Ó Lochlainn, which is derived from a Norse personal name.

Early Origins of the Loughlin family

The surname Loughlin was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Loughlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Loughlin research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1281, 1300, 1789, 1819, 1828, 1842 and 1905 are included under the topic Early Loughlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Loughlin Spelling Variations

One explanation for the many variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname Loughlin were found in the many archives researched. These included Loughlin, O'Loughlin, Loughnane and others.

Early Notables of the Loughlin family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • Conghalach O'Loughlin, Bishop of Corcomroe

Loughlin Ranking

In the United States, the name Loughlin is the 9,939th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Loughlin migration to the United States +

A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name Loughlin or one of its variants:

Loughlin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Philip Loughlin, aged 19, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1776 [2]
Loughlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Loughlin, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 [2]
  • Sarah Loughlin, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 [2]
  • James Loughlin, who landed in New York State in 1823
  • Patrick Loughlin, aged 30, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 [2]
  • Michael Loughlin, who arrived in Vermont in 1847 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Loughlin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Loughlin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Loughlin was the holder of an inn in St. John's, Newfoundland around 1730 [3]
Loughlin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Loughlin was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1818 [3]
  • Thomas Loughlin, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1828
  • James Loughlin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1836
  • John Loughlin, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
  • James Loughlin was a farmer in Red Cove, Newfoundland in 1871 [3]

Australia Loughlin migration to Australia +

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

Loughlin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Bryan Loughlin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cheapside" in 1849 [4]
  • Ellen Loughlin, aged 18, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" [5]
  • Mary Loughlin, aged 22, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" [5]
  • Bridget Loughlin, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
  • Ellen Loughlin, aged 11, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "North"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Loughlin 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:

Loughlin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J Loughlin, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
  • Eliza J. Loughlin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1866
  • Mary Loughlin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1866
  • Agnes Loughlin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1866
  • Elija Loughlin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1866
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Loughlin (post 1700) +

  • Lori Anne Loughlin (b. 1964), American actress
  • Thomas Loughlin, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 23rd District, 1905-06 [6]
  • Marie Walch Loughlin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1952 [6]
  • John P. Loughlin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State Senate 24th District, 1948 [6]
  • John F. Loughlin, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1940; Member of Iowa Republican State Central Committee, 1949 [6]
  • James F. Loughlin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 40th District, 1924 [6]
  • James E. Loughlin (d. 1933), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Enfield, 1915-16 [6]
  • Henry C. Loughlin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1896 [6]
  • Frank P. Loughlin, American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Dover 1st Ward; Elected 1938 [6]
  • Eugene S. Loughlin, American Republican politician, First Selectman of Greenwich, Connecticut, 1937-38 [6]
  • ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Loughlin 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: Anchora salutis
Motto Translation: The anchor of salvation.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The CHEAPSIDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cheapside.htm
  5. South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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