Map of Ireland showing where the Clavin arms are recorded
The Clavin arms were recorded in Donegal, c. 1645.
Donegal was remote north-western Irish country of mountain and coast. Its land was poor and its families few, but those who held ground held it for a very long time.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Clavin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Donegal.
Origin & History of the Clavin Family in Ireland
The surname Clavin is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of County Donegal, where records confirm the family was well-established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is widely considered an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Clúmháin, which likely originated from a descriptive term for a person with a distinct physical trait or a specific personality. During the 1640s, Ireland was a place of great political upheaval, and families in the northwest were often deeply connected to the local clan structures that governed daily life and land ownership. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Clavin family navigated the transition from traditional Gaelic social systems to the changing legal and administrative frameworks imposed across the region. Their presence in Donegal during this era suggests they were part of the resilient local population that maintained strong ties to their ancestral territory despite the significant historical pressures of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clamhan
A Gaelic term referring to a buzzard or bird of prey.
This name
ClavinDerived from a nickname for a person with the characteristics of a buzzard.
also spelled
Colvyn
Colvynne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames. 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of 1654–1656
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
