Show ContentsMcLoughlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of McLoughlin

What does the name McLoughlin mean?

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. McLoughlin originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Lochlainn or Ó Maoilsheachlainn. The first name is derived from a Norse personal name, while the second name originally designated a follower of St. Secundinus.

Early Origins of the McLoughlin family

The surname McLoughlin was first found in County Meath (Irish: An Mhí) anciently part of the kingdom of Brega, located in Eastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, long before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D.

Muircheartach Mac Lochlainn (died 1166), was king of Tír Eoghain, and High King of Ireland (c.1156-1166.) Together with sixteen of his closest allies, he was killed and was succeeded by Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair.

Niall Mac Lochlainn (died 1176) was a king of Cenél nEógain and Cenél Conaill, son of Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn.

Early History of the McLoughlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLoughlin research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1002, 1172, 1387, 1404, 1405, 1506, 1699, 1784, 1797 and 1857 are included under the topic Early McLoughlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLoughlin Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name McLoughlin family name. Variations found include MacLoughlin, McLoughlin, MacGloughlin, Lochlain, Claughan and many more.

Early Notables of the McLoughlin family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Cearbhall mac Lochlainn Ó Dálaigh (died 1404), an Irish poet, Chief Ollam of Ireland (1387-1405); Paidin mac Lochlainn Ó Mailchonaire (died 1506), an Irish poet; Charles Macklin (1699-1797), originally Cathal MacLochlainn in Irish, or Charles McLaughlin...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McLoughlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLoughlin Ranking

In the United States, the name McLoughlin is the 7,523rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in the United Kingdom, the name McLoughlin is ranked the 862nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,887 people with that name. 2


McLoughlin migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name McLoughlin:

McLoughlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander McLoughlin, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 3
  • Mary McLoughlin, aged 48, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 3
  • Bernd McLoughlin, who landed in America in 1805 3
  • Martha McLoughlin, who landed in America in 1805 3
  • John McLoughlin, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1812 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McLoughlin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McLoughlin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Michael McLoughlin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1828

McLoughlin migration to Australia +

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

McLoughlin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John McLoughlin, Irish convict who was convicted in Mayo, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Mr. Thomas McLoughlin, Irish convict who was convicted in Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Mr. William Mcloughlin, (b. 1780), aged 40, Irish labourer who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Miss Ann Mcloughlin, (Elen), (b. 1788), aged 38, Irish dairy maid who was convicted in Longford, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mrs. Anne Mcloughlin, (Magloughlin, Kelly,), (b. 1800), aged 29, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 1 child 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McLoughlin 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:

McLoughlin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Sarah Mcloughlin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 8
  • Miss Marianne Mcloughlin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 8
  • Miss Sarah Mcloughlin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 8
  • Mr. John Mcloughlin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 8
  • Hugh McLoughlin, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McLoughlin (post 1700) +

  • James "Jamie" McLoughlin (1885-1946), American 1904 Summer Olympics silver medalist rower
  • Raymond John McLoughlin (1939-2021), Ireland rugby union international who was capped 40 times at prop, an Irish record at the time
  • Alan Francis McLoughlin (1967-2021), Irish professional footballer and coach, who played as a midfielder for the Republic of Ireland (1990-1999)
  • Martin Paul McLoughlin, Irish rugby league footballer
  • Joseph McLoughlin (1916-1991), Irish Fine Gael politician
  • Thomas A. McLoughlin (1896-1971), Irish engineer
  • Jack Alan McLoughlin (b. 1995), Australian swimmer, he won gold and silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, won a silver medal in 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, in 2019 he won gold at the World Championships
  • Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857), Canadian Chief Factor of the Columbia Fur District of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver, known as the "Father of Oregon" for his work in assisting the American cause in the Oregon Country
  • Keith R. McLoughlin (b. 1956), President and CEO of Electrolux
  • Paul McLoughlin, retired English footballer
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. John Mcloughlin, English Greaser from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 9
  • Mr. Patrick J. Mcloughlin, Irish 3rd Class passenger returning from Hartford, Connecticut, USA going to Ireland to rejoin family, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 10


The McLoughlin 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: Cuimhnig ar do geallamhnaca


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  3. 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)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  10. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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