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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
waveThe sea, and a life crossed by it
sailEnterprise, and a voyage undertaken
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
What the shield shows
The shield is divided into four sections. The first is gold with a red lion rearing up. The second is silver with a right hand in its natural colour, cut off at the wrist, lying on its side and gripping a blue cross with a pointed foot. The third is gold with a black galley on the sea, its sails furled and a red pennant flying. The fourth is silver with a salmon swimming in the sea, all in their natural colours.
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
Where the Mclaughlin Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
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
Pronunciationmuh-KLOK-lin/məˈklɒxlɪn/
The name McLaughlin is a classic example of a Gaelic surname that traveled across the sea. It originates from the Irish name Mac Lochlainn, which translates to son of Lochlann. The name Lochlann itself is an old term that refers to a person from the land of the lakes, often used to describe Viking settlers in Ireland. Over many generations, families carrying this name moved from their ancestral homes in Ireland to various parts of Scotland. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the name had become well-established in urban centers like Edinburgh.
Records show that members of the McLaughlin family were living and working in Edinburgh by 1748. During this period, the city was undergoing a major transformation as it expanded beyond its medieval walls. Families like the McLaughlins were part of a growing population of laborers, tradespeople, and merchants who helped build the modern Scottish capital. While many people associate the name primarily with Ireland, the presence of the family in Edinburgh during the 1700s highlights the long history of migration and cultural exchange between the two nations. These early settlers helped shape the local community and left a lasting mark on the city's history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Lochlainn
Son of the one who is like a Viking or Norseman.
This name
MclaughlinDerived from Gaelic elements meaning son of the servant of the Scandinavian.
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 F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Births and Baptisms: Edinburgh, 1748
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
cross symbolChristian faith and service
waveThe sea, and a life crossed by it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
cross symbolChristian faith and service
waveThe sea, and a life crossed by it
