Olivia Chen

By Olivia Chen
Historical Naming Consultant

Updated on September 02, 2024

Loughlin

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Origin: Gaelic

Meaning: descendant of vikings

Steeped in Viking folklore, Loughlin is a masculine Gaelic name with an enduring heritage on the west shores of Ireland. Formed from the family name Ó Lochlainn, Loughlin refers to one belonging to  Lochlann, better translated as “descendant of Vikings.” In the Gaelic language, Lochlann refers to the “land of Fjords,” denoting the Nordic realms and the Viking kingdom. Over the centuries, the O’Loughlins would come to be recognized as a powerful family on the wild Atlantic coast—stretching from County Clare to the tribal city of Galway.