McLoughlin - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Mac Lochlainn
Meaning: “son of the Viking” (Lochlann = Norse lands)
Traditional stronghold: Derry, Donegal
Pronunciation: muk-LOKH-lin; Irish Mac Lochlainn: mahk LOKH-lin
History of the McLoughlin name
Mac Lochlainn, meaning 'son of the Norseman/Lochlann', reflects Viking-era contact and named a powerful medieval Ulster dynasty, the Cenel nEogain of Inishowen and Tir Eoghain, which for a time rivalled the O'Neills for the kingship of all Ireland in the 12th century before being eclipsed by them. A separate sept of the same name existed in Connacht, particularly Galway and Clare, giving the name a second regional stronghold. The Ulster McLoughlins gradually lost dominance to the O'Neills but the surname persisted strongly in Donegal and Derry, while the Connacht branch remained prominent in the west. Today McLoughlin is common across Ulster and Connacht and, in its Loughlin form, elsewhere in Ireland.
Variants: MacLoughlin · Loughlin · McLaughlin
Famous bearers of the name
- Domnall Mac Lochlainn - 12th-century King of Ailech and claimant to the High Kingship
- Audrey McLoughlin - Canadian politician of Irish descent, first woman to lead a major Canadian federal party
- Peter McLoughlin - Irish sportsperson
- James McLaughlin - Irish-American Catholic bishop
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Connor · Gallagher · Boyle · Doherty · Sweeney · O'Donnell · Duffy · Mooney