Ó Lorcáin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó LORCÁIN—I—O Lurkaine, O Lorkan, Lorkan, Lorkin, Larkin, Larken, Larkins, &c.; 'descendant of Lorcán' (diminutive of lorc, fierce); the name of several distinct families in different parts of Ireland, of whom the following were in early times the most distinguished: (1) Ó Lorcáin of Leinster. This family, which is of the royal race of Leinster, was seated in the barony of Forth, in the south-east of Co. Wexford, until dispossessed soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, and is still numerous in Leinster. (2) Ó Lorcáin of Oriel, an important family in early times, and still numerous in Co. Armagh. The head of this family is described at different times as lord of Ui Niallain, Lord of Farney, and lord of West Ui Breasail. (3) Ó Lorcáin of Ui Maine, a Galway family of the same stock as the O'Maddens, still numerous and respectable in that county. (4) Ó Lorcáin of Meath, the head of which was anciently lord of Caille Follamain. (5) Ó Lorcáin of Tipperary, an ecclesiastical family, the head of which was anciently erenagh of Lorrha. All these families are still well represented. MacFirbis mentions another family of the name, a branch of the Cinel Eoghain, in Co. Donegal.

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