Laffan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The surname Laffan is derived from a child. The surname Laffan is derived from the French "l'enfant," or perhaps from La Font or La Fin, which are both found in French records.

Early Origins of the Laffan family

The surname Laffan was first found in counties Tipperary and Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman), founded by Vikings as Waesfjord, and located in Southeastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where they were granted lands by Strongbow after the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Laffan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laffan research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1200 is included under the topic Early Laffan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laffan Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes often simply spelled names as they sounded. As a result, a single person's name may have been recorded a dozen different ways during his lifetime. Spelling variations for the name Laffan include: Laffan, Laffin, La Font, Laffhan and others.

Early Notables of the Laffan family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Laffan of Tipperary

Laffan migration to the United States +

The Irish emigration during the late 18th and 19th century contributed to the melting pot of nationalities in North America, and the building of a whole new era of industry and commerce in what was seen as a rich, new land. Ireland'sGreat Potato Famine resulted in the worst economic and social conditions in the island's history. And in response to the hunger, disease, and poverty, during this decade the total number of emigrants to leave for North America rivaled all the previous years combined. Those from this decade that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Research into early immigration and passenger lists has shown many people bearing the name Laffan:

Laffan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Lillie Laffan, who landed in Alabama in 1927 1
Mary Antonio Laffan, who arrived in Alabama in 1927 1

Laffan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Laffan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Michael Laffan U.E., "Laffen" who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 2

Laffan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Laffan, whose marriage was recorded in Nova Scotia in 1815
John Laffan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1815

Contemporary Notables of the name Laffan (post 1700) +

William MacKay Laffan (1848-1909), Irish-born, American publisher and editor of the New York Sun, a friend, correspondent and publisher of Mark Twain
Stella Laffan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1948; Member of Iowa Democratic State Central Committee, 1949 3
Robert Laffan (1821-1882), Irish Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly (1823-1833)
Pat Laffan (1940-2019), Irish actor, best known for his role as Pat Mustard in Father Ted, and as Mr Burgess in The Snapper
Sir Robert Michael Laffan (1821-1882), Irish officer of the Royal Engineers and politician, and Governor of Bermuda
Gary Laffan (b. 1975), retired Irish hurler who played as a full-forward for the Wexford (1994-2002)
Sir Joseph De Courcy Laffan (1786-1848), 1st Baronet, Irish physician, Physician-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria's father the Duke of Kent
Patrick Laffan, Irish film actor
Brigid Laffan, Irish Research Director of the Dublin European Institute, and lecturer at University College Dublin
Michael Laffan, Irish historian
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Laffan 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: Vincit omnia veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers all things.

Citations +

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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html