Map of Ireland showing where the Coughlin arms are recorded
The Coughlin arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1654.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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.
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 Ireland.
Origin & History of the Coughlin Family in Ireland
The family name Coughlin is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Cochláin, which originates from the word *cochlach*, meaning hooded or cloaked. The family was historically associated with the province of Munster, particularly in County Cork, where they held significant influence as a sept before the political upheavals of the seventeenth century. By 1654, records confirm the presence of the family in Dublin, a time when the Cromwellian land settlements were forcing many Irish families to relocate or register their status under new administrative requirements. This period marked a transition for the family as they navigated the shifting social landscape of Ireland, moving from their traditional rural strongholds into the urban environment of the capital city. Their presence in Dublin during this era reflects the broader displacement of Irish lineages during the mid-seventeenth century as they adapted to the changing political authority of the time.
Coughlin Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ó Cochláin
Derived from the Gaelic word for a hooded cloak or cowl.
This name
CoughlinRefers to a descendant of the person who wore a distinctive hood.
also spelled
Coghlen
Coghlin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames. 1923
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of Ireland. 1654–1656
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