Surname MacLoughney - Meaning and Origin

MacLoughney: What does the surname MacLoughney mean?

The last name MacLoughney is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic ‘Mac Lochlainn’, which translates as ‘son of Lochlann’.

The earliest records of the name date back to the late 16th century in South West Scotland. The variation of the name which became popular in Scotland was MacLaughney, with McLoughney appearing in some Irish and Northern Irish records.

In terms of its literal meaning, the name is thought to refer to a person who is descended from a chief, or descendant of a ‘Lochlann’, which translates to Norway. To this day, there are still a number of large concentrations of MacLoughney families found in Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The heraldic crest associated with the name features a green and white cross behind a blue shield, with additional green symbols representing the chief’s Norse ancestry. The motto reads “Semper vigilans,” which translates into “always watchful.”

Today, the surname MacLoughney is a well-established name in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, as well as various other parts of the world. It represents a strong heritage and respect for a long and proud family history.

MacLoughney: Where does the name MacLoughney come from?

The last name MacLoughney is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the island nation’s northeast region where it is said to have originated more than 1,000 years ago. In addition some variation of this surname is found in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and France.

The most prominent surname bearer of this name is the Scottish Clan MacLoughney. The clan traces its lineage to a man named Laughlin who lived in Scotland around the 11th century. Laughlin's relatives then adopted the MacLoughney surname over the years.

The surname is also popular among Indic-speaking populations and can be traced to India, where it is seen as a name of both Buddhist and Jain origin.

Central and Eastern Europeans who emigrated to the United States later adopted MacLoughney as a name of choice too, largely for its aristocratic connection, as it was a name found among wealthy and influential families.

In the US today, the most prominent cluster of MacLoughneys can be found in the Midwest. Individuals with this surname have also been known to live in California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts.

The name's popularity continues to spread across the globe as many presumably distant relatives of the original Clan MacLoughney reach out to establish family networks and keep their heritage alive.

Variations of the surname MacLoughney

MacLoughney is an Irish surname of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic language from the Gaelic words “Mac” meaning son of and “Lochain” meaning lake. Historically, the MacLoughney family were located in Scotland, where the name is still prominent in areas like the Isle of Skye, the most northerly of the Inner Hebrides.

The most common variant of the MacLoughney surname is MacLaughlin. Spellings variations of MacLoughney include MacLaughlan, McLaughlin, McLauchlan, MacLachlan, MacLachlin, McLachlan, McLachlin, MacLaughlen, McClaughlen, MacGlochlin and McGlochlin.

The clan was widely dispersed to other locations in Scotland and Ireland, and later travelled to the United States, Canada and Australia. In the United States, the most common surnames associated with the MacLoughney family are MacLaughlin and McLaughlin.

One of the earliest references to the MacLoughney surname is to a man named Lachlan Dennedie MacLethmost McCLoughney, recorded in a charter from 1314. He was the son of Gilchrist McCLethmust McCLoughney, who was a chieftain of the clan. The surname is believed to have evolved from this spelling over the centuries, with several branches of the family spelling the name differently.

Famous people with the name MacLoughney

• Joanne MacLoughney: Award-winning film producer and writer with credits in small-screen series and educational film projects.
• Jock MacLoughney: Scottish professional footballer who played for several teams in the 1950s.
• Cassie MacLoughney: Actress and former model who appeared in a number of television shows and featured films.
• Andrew MacLoughney: Guinness Book of Records holder for the world’s longest beard at 6 feet 10.5 inches.
• Joe MacLoughney: American award-winning musician, composer and song writer.
• John MacLoughney: Canadian writer, screenwriter, executive producer, playwright and director who won the Canadian Screen Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
• Alysia MacLoughney: British lawyer and professor at the University of Warwick School of Law.
• Douglas MacLoughney: Award-winning British-born architect who is responsible for some of the most iconic buildings in Europe and the Middle East.
• Alan MacLoughney: Irish-born award-winning Television Producer and Director at Discovery Networks.
• Frank MacLoughney: Former Professional Footballer and Manager for the Irish League Football Club Drogheda United.

Other surnames

MacLoughlin