Show ContentsLoughan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Loughan comes from the original Irish Gealic name Ó Leoghain. Lohan sometimes been unusually mistranslated into Duck, the Irish word for duck being "lacha" which bears only a slight similarity to the original. 1

The surname sometimes appears as Logan, but in many cases, especially in Ulster, this name is of Scottish descendent, brought to Ireland by the plantations.

Early Origins of the Loughan family

The surname Loughan was first found in County Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where it belonged to the sept whose chiefs were lords of Gailenga Mor, now Morgallion. The annals tell the story of how the men of Teffia (County Meath) slew Cuan O Lothchain, the chief poet of King Malachy II, in 1024 and died miraculously as retribution. Maurice O'Loughan was Bishop of Kilmacduagh from 1254 to 1283. The prominent members of the O Leochain sept were driven across the river Shannon by the Anglo-Norman invasion.

Early History of the Loughan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Loughan research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1439, 1806, 1839, 1853, 1899, 1909 and 1932 are included under the topic Early Loughan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Loughan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lohan, O'Lohan, Loughan, Loghan, Logan, Duck and others.

Early Notables of the Loughan family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Loughan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Loughan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Loughan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Loughan, who was recorded as a British alien in New York, NY during the War of 1812
  • Patrick Loughan, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Peter Loughan, who took the Oath of Allegiance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1852

Loughan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Loughan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Wenifred Loughan, who settled in New Brunswick between 1843 and 1847


The Loughan 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.


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


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