Show ContentsLavin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Lavin surname name is derived from the Gaelic Laimhin, a reduced form of Flaithimhin. The Gaelic word "flaith," means "prince or ruler," but this name has sometimes been mis-translated as "hand."

Early Origins of the Lavin family

The surname Lavin was first found in counties Mayo and Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht.

Early History of the Lavin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lavin research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1744, 1802, 1864 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lavin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lavin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lavin, Lavan, Glavin, O'Lavin, Glavan, MacGlavin, Hand, MacGlavy and many more.

Early Notables of the Lavin family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lavin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lavin Ranking

In the United States, the name Lavin is the 6,396th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1


Lavin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lavin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Lawrence Lavin, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
  • Jose Ramon Lavin, aged 14, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1831 2
  • Patrick Lavin, who landed in Maryland in 1843 2
  • Anthony Lavin, who settled in Philadelphia in 1847
  • J Lavin, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lavin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Agnes Lavin, aged 8, who landed in America from Swinford, in 1900
  • Andrew Lavin, aged 27, who settled in America from Kiltimagh, Ireland, in 1913
  • Agnes Lavin, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Ballymote, Ireland, in 1913
  • Angel Lavin, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1917

Lavin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lavin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Eliza Lavin, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick from the port of Derry in 1847
  • Mr. Henry Lavin who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Aberdeen" departing 1st May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 13th June 1847 but he died on board 3
  • Mrs. Mary Lavin, aged 40 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Bolton" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but she died on board 3
  • Miss. Mary Lavin, aged 6 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Bolton" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but she died on board 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Lavin (post 1700) +

  • Leonard H. Lavin (1919-2017), American businessman, racehorse owner and breeder, and philanthropist, founder of the Alberto-Culver Company
  • Franklin "Frank" Lavin, American Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (2005 to 2007)
  • Steve Lavin (b. 1964), American basketball coach and former player
  • Linda Lavin (b. 1937), American television and stage actress born in Portland, Maine
  • Mary Lavin (1912-1996), American-born Irish writer
  • Steve Lavin, American Republican politician, Member of Montana State House of Representatives 8th District; Elected 2010 4
  • James M. Lavin, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1900, 1904 4
  • Franklin L. Lavin (b. 1957), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, 2001-05 4
  • Erma I. Lavin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 4
  • Andrew Lavin, Irish politician and farmer
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  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. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 83)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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