Surname O'Flynn - Meaning and Origin
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O'Flynn: What does the surname O'Flynn mean?
The last name O'Flynn is derived from the Irish surname Ó Floinn, which is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic personal name 'Flann'. The name is derived from an old Gaelic word meaning 'red' or 'red-haired', and so the surname is associated with those who had red hair.
The surname O'Flynn is of ancient Irish origin and originated in County Clare. It was brough to Ireland by the Norman-French invader Strongbow, who is believed to have been given the land of Desmond by Henry II of England in the 12th century.
The O'Flynn clan was once prominent in the area; they were a powerful force in Kilkenny and Leinster and were closely related to the O'Briens of Thomond. As one of the oldest families in Ireland, the name O'Flynn has been associated with the Irish for centuries and is still in use today.
The O'Flynn surname is found mainly in its Irish variants, but other anglicized forms include Flynn, O'Lynn, and O'Flinn. O'Flynn is an Irish patronymic last name that suggests a proud and ancient lineage. Those with the O'Flynn surname are connected to a legendary and long term history of the Emerald Island.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Flynn: Where does the name O'Flynn come from?
The last name O'Flynn is primarily associated with Ireland, with significant numbers of people bearing the name living in the country today. It is believed that the name originates from the Gaelic form of the name, "ó Floinn", meaning simply "descendant of Floinn".
Though the O'Flynn surname is most often associated with Ireland, individuals bearing the name may be found across the world. The US is home to a large number of O'Flynns, particularly in southern states such as Texas, Colorado, and California. Elsewhere, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia all have sizeable populations of individuals bearing the name as well.
Within Ireland, the O'Flynn name traditionally has been most common in the western part of the country. Over the centuries, many O'Flynns have migrated to other regions of the country, and today O'Flynns can be found all across the Emerald Isle. The counties of Cork, Dublin, and Galway all have particularly large numbers of O'Flynns.
Today, the O'Flynn name is both recognizable and appreciated in the places where it is found. From innovators in business to respected musicians, the O'Flynn name carries a great sense of pride in the Irish community.
Variations of the surname O'Flynn
The O’Flynn surname can take a variety of forms, depending on the spelling and pronunciation of the name. Common alternate spellings of the O’Flynn last name include ‘Ó Floinn’ and ‘Ó Laoidhigh’, as well as ‘Flinn’, ‘Flynn’, ‘Lynn’, ‘O'Flinn’, and ‘O'Flynn’. It is also a fairly common surname, and can be found in many countries around the globe.
In some Irish-speaking areas, the name is spelled using the traditional ‘Ó Floinn’ variation. This is a Gaelic-spelled spelling that encompasses the ‘O’, often written as simply ‘Floinn’ in English-speaking contexts.
The name has also been anglicised to ‘Flynn’ or ‘Lynn’ in some cases. This simply involves dropping the 'O' from the name, creating additional naming variants.
In addition, some families may have adopted the alternate surname ‘Laoidhigh’, which is derived from the same source as the O’Flynn name. Other surnames related to the O’Flynn name are Patick, FitzPatrick, Fitzpatrick, Joice, Joyce, and Lavery.
Overall, the O’Flynn surname has numerous variants, spellings, and even related surnames that may be found in different areas and countries around the world. It is therefore important to conduct thorough research in order to uncover all the possible spellings and their variations.
Famous people with the name O'Flynn
- Tommy O'Flynn: Irish accordionist and fiddler.
- Patrick O'Flynn: British journalist and UKIP MEP.
- Dara O'Flynn: Irish actor.
- Gene O'Flynn: Irish politician.
- Paddy O'Flynn: Irish Gaelic footballer and manager.
- Tom O'Flynn: Irish architect and planner.
- Ryan O'Flynn: Australian rugby league player.
- Bríd O'Flynn: Irish hurler.
- Hugh O'Flynn: Irish Gaelic footballer and coach.
- Niamh O'Flynn: Irish handballer.
- Kerry O'Flynn: Australian politician.
- Billy O'Flynn: Irish Gaelic footballer.
- Shane O'Flynn: Irish hurling manager and coach.
- Paudge O'Flynn: Irish Gaelic footballer.
- Owen O'Flynn: Irish soccer player.
- Eamon O'Flynn: Irish singer-songwriter.
- Seamus O'Flynn: Irish Gaelic footballer.
- Tim O'Flynn: Irish hurler.
- John O'Flynn: Irish politician.
- Siobhan O'Flynn: Irish singer-songwriter.