Map of Ireland showing where the Lofty arms are recorded
The Lofty arms were recorded in Armagh, c. 1495.
Armagh was the church capital of Ireland with good farmland around it. Church office and landholding both brought standing, and standing was marked with arms.
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.
Henry VII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VII of England
1485–1509
Reigning in Ireland when the Lofty 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 Armagh.
Origin & History of the Lofty Family in Ireland
The surname Lofty carries a long history rooted in the landscape of County Armagh, where records confirm the family was established as early as 1495. During this period, the name was likely associated with individuals living in elevated or prominent positions within the local community, as the word itself suggests a connection to high ground or a noble stature. Life in fifteenth-century Armagh was defined by the complex social structures of the Gaelic lordships, and families like the Loftys often served as landholders or local administrators under the influence of regional chieftains. Over the following centuries, the family name became deeply woven into the fabric of the region, surviving through periods of significant political and social transition in Ireland. By maintaining a presence in the area for over five centuries, the family contributed to the agricultural and cultural development of the Armagh countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lachtna
Derived from the Irish word for milk-colored or fair-haired.
This name
LoftyAn anglicized form of the Gaelic surname O Lachtnain, signifying a descendant of the fair-haired one.
also spelled
Lofty
Loftye
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Administrative Records of the Armagh Diocese
O'Donovan, John, Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, 1856
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
