A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the McLaughlin family of Scotland.
Reg. 1000 · Scottish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st, or, a lion ramp. gu.; 2nd, ar. a dexter hand couped at the wrist ppr. lying fessways and grasping a cross pattée fitchée az.; 3rd, or, on waves of the sea in base ppr. a galley, sails furled sa. pennon flying gu.; 4th, ar. in waves of the sea in base a salmon naiant all ppr”
Scotlandc. 1748
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Map of Scotland showing where the McLaughlin arms are recorded
The McLaughlin arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the McLaughlin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the McLaughlin Family in Scotland
The surname McLaughlin originates from the Gaelic name Mac Lochlainn, which translates to son of Lochlann. The name Lochlann itself is an ancient term used to describe the land of the Vikings, suggesting that early ancestors may have had strong connections to Norse settlers in Ireland. Over many centuries, families bearing this name established themselves across the northern regions of Ireland, particularly in County Donegal. By the middle of the eighteenth century, members of the family had migrated across the Irish Sea to Scotland. Records confirm their presence in Edinburgh by 1748, marking a period where many Irish families moved to urban centers to seek new opportunities in trade and labor. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of people between Ireland and Scotland during the Enlightenment era, as families sought to build new lives in growing cities.
McLaughlin Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
MacLochlainn
Son of the servant of the Norseman or Viking.
This name
McLaughlinDerived from Gaelic, signifying a descendant of a Norse-Gaelic chieftain or seafaring warrior.
also spelled
McLaghlin
Related arms
M'Beansimilar arms
M'Lachlansimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
National Records of Scotland. Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, Births and Baptisms. 1748
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
