Where Does the MacLaughlin Surname Come From?

The spelling MacLaughlin grew out of McLaughlin, an Irish surname with a long paper trail. Its meaning, shared with McLaughlin, is “Son of Lochlann (Scandinavian)”. Records show MacLaughlin as one of the forms McLaughlin took over time. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard.

Related forms: McLoughlin and O'Loughlin.

Arms linked to McLaughlin and its spellings were granted to individual families; our heraldry team traces which line they belonged to. For the full story, order the MacLaughlin surname pack.