Show ContentsLurke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Lurke

What does the name Lurke mean?

The surname Lurke was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in Ayrshire.

Early Origins of the Lurke family

The surname Lurke was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, some say before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The legendary history of this prominent Ayrshire name claims descent from Loigire Lork, and early King of Ireland, the father of Aillil Aine.

Early History of the Lurke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lurke research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1476, 1503, 1526, 1592, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lurke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lurke Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Lurke has been spelled MacLurg, McLurg, M'Lurg, M'Lorg, M'Lorc, M'Lork, M'Lurgh, M'Lurge, M'Lurgg, M'Clurg and many more.

Early Notables of the Lurke family

More information is included under the topic Early Lurke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lurke family to Ireland

Some of the Lurke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Lurke migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were:

Lurke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Lurke, aged 21, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1845 1


The Lurke 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: Ad metam
Motto Translation: To the mark.


  1. 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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