Show ContentsOlaughlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Before Irish names were translated into English, Olaughlin had a Gaelic form of Ó Lochlainn, which is derived from a Norse personal name.

Early Origins of the Olaughlin family

The surname Olaughlin was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Olaughlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Olaughlin research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1281, 1300, 1789, 1819, 1828, 1842 and 1905 are included under the topic Early Olaughlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Olaughlin Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages a name was spelt by scribes solely based on how it sounded, one's name could have been recorded many different ways during the life of its bearer. Numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Olaughlin family name. Variations found include Loughlin, O'Loughlin, Loughnane and others.

Early Notables of the Olaughlin family

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

Olaughlin Ranking

In the United States, the name Olaughlin is the 14,217th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Canada Olaughlin migration to Canada +

Many Irish families boarded ships bound for North America in the middle of 19th century to escape the conditions of poverty and racial discrimination at that time. Although these immigrants often arrived in a destitute state, they went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. An inquiry into many immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants to North America bearing the Olaughlin family name:

Olaughlin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Ross O'Laughlin, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Trafalgar" from Galway, Ireland

Australia Olaughlin migration to Australia +

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

Olaughlin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Patrick O'Laughlin, aged 45, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Monsoon"
  • James O'Laughlin, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Utopia"

New Zealand Olaughlin 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:

Olaughlin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mary O'Laughlin, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877

Contemporary Notables of the name Olaughlin (post 1700) +

  • John Callan O'Laughlin (1873-1949), American journalist and publisher of the Army and Navy Journal
  • W. C. O'Laughlin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1956 2
  • Bernard J. O'Laughlin, American politician, Independent Candidate for U.S. Senator from North Dakota, 1944 2

Hindenburg LZ-129
  • Mr. Herbert O'Laughlin (1909-1937), American President of Consumers Coal and Coke Co. from River Forest, Illinois, USA, who was a passenger on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire 3


The Olaughlin 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: Anchora salutis
Motto Translation: The anchor of salvation.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/


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