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Show ContentsLogan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The history of the Logan family begins in the Boernician tribes of ancient Scotland. The Logan family lived in Logan, near Auchinleck. These place names derive from the Gaelic word lagan, from lag meaning "a hollow." 1

Early Origins of the Logan family

The surname Logan was first found in Ayrshire where they first appeared in the records in the village of Logan in 1204. A number of Logans swore an oath of allegiance to Edward I of England when he conquered Scotland in 1296: Thurbrend Logan (Lord of Crougar), Lord of Crougar in Cunningham; Phillip Logan of Montrose; Walter Logan of Lanarkshire; and Andrew Logan of Wigtown. 1

In 1329, Sir Robert Logan and Sir Walter Logan were killed in Spain while accompanying Sir James Douglas to the Holy Land with the heart of Bruce (thus the Clan's Crest). They were attempting to fulfill Robert the Bruce's request to have his heart buried in the Holy Land.

Early History of the Logan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Logan research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1555, 1573, 1606, 1609, 1635, 1653, 1665, 1669, 1671, 1674, 1688, 1699, 1700, 1701, 1712, 1718, 1729, 1730, 1733, 1736, 1740, 1751, 1776, 1778, 1784, 1798, 1814, 1817, 1842, 1851, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Logan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Logan Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries and printing presses went into use in the last few hundred years, spelling, particularly of names, was a largely intuitive matter. Consequently, many spelling variations occur in even the simplest names from the Middle Ages. Logan has been spelled Logan, Loggan, Loganaich, MacLennan and many more.

Early Notables of the Logan family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • James Logan (1674-1751), William Penn's agent in America and man of science, born at his father's house at Lurgan, co. Armagh, 20 Oct. 1674, was son of Patrick Logan, a grandson of Sir Robert Logan of...
  • Sir Robert Logan (d. 1606), of Restalrig, supposed Gowrie conspirator, was descended from an old line of Scottish barons, who originally possessed Logan in Ayrshire, and acquired the barony of Restalr...

Logan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Logan is the 454th most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Logan is ranked the 619th most popular surname with an estimated 8,297 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Logan is the 392nd popular surname with an estimated 9,424 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Logan as 340th with 1,851 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Logan as 534th with 12,301 people. 6

Ireland Migration of the Logan family to Ireland

Some of the Logan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Logan migration to the United States +

The east coasts of the United States and Canada are still populated by many of the descendents of the Boernician-Scottish families who made that great crossing. They distributed themselves evenly when they first arrived, but at the time of the War of Independence those who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. This century, many of their ancestors have recovered their past heritage through highland games and other Scottish functions in North America. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that many immigrants bearing the name Logan or a variant listed above:

Logan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David Logan who settled in Virginia in 1740
  • William Logan, who arrived in Augusta County, Va in 1740 7
  • Colon Logan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
  • Darby Logan, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
  • John Logan with his wife and two children settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1765
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Logan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Logan, who arrived in America in 1801 7
  • David Logan, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 7
  • William Logan, aged 36, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 7
  • Geo Logan, aged 30, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 7
  • Geo, Logan Jr., aged 25, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Logan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Logan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • George Logan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Logan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Hannah Logan, aged 28, who landed in Quebec in 1834
  • James Logan, aged 60, who landed in Quebec in 1834
  • John Logan, aged 24, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
  • Margaret Logan, aged 60, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
  • Nancy Logan, aged 22, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Logan migration to Australia +

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

Logan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Logan, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Daniel Logan, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. James Logan who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Robert Logan, (b. 1810), aged 21, Irish tobacconist who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 16th August 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Francis Logan, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Logan 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:

Logan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Francis Logan, aged 57, a doctor, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 13
  • Janet Logan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 13
  • Housten Francis Logan, aged 15 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 13
  • Mr. T. Logan, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 14
  • Mrs. Logan, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Logan (post 1700) +

  • Henry Lee Logan (1946-2023), American ABA basketball player
  • Ronald "Ron" Logan (1938-2022), American businessman, a Disney Legend, Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Entertainment
  • Judson Campbell "Jud" Logan (1959-2022), American gold medalist in the hammer throw at the 1987 Pan American Games and later competed in four Summer Olympics, starting in 1984; he died of complications from COVID-19
  • Giuseppi Logan (1935-2020), American jazz musician, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; he died from COVID-19
  • Richard Leroy "Dick" Logan (1930-2016), American NFL football player for the Green Bay Packers (1952–1953)
  • Brigadier-General Francis Vincent Logan (b. 1891), American Assistant Commanding General 26th Division (1942-1943) 15
  • John Alexander Logan Jr. (1865-1899), American United States Army General, Medal of Honor recipient
  • John Logan (1747-1807), American pioneer and Indian fighter who fought with Daniel Boone
  • James Harvey Logan (1841-1928), American horticulturist, creator of the loganberry
  • James Marion Logan (1920-1999), United States Army soldier, Medal of Honor recipient
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Royal Oak
  • Frank Logan (1903-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 16
RMS Lusitania
  • Master Robert Logan, American 3rd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 17
  • Mrs. Ruth Logan, American 3rd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 17
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. W. H. Logan, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

The Logan 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: Hoc majorum virtus
Motto Translation: This is the valour of my ancestors.

Suggested Readings for the name Logan +

  • Historic Families of Kentucky by Thomas Marshall Green.
  • Those Who Have Gone Before by Miriam Halbert Bales.
  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. 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)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  9. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Francis Logan. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Logan/Francis_Vincent/USA.html
  16. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  17. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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