Larkin Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Larkin last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Larkin last name
Meaning of the Larkin last name: descendant of Lorcán (fierce). Larkin is an Irish surname from Gaelic Ó Lorcáin, "descendant of Lorcán", a name from lorcc, "fierce". The last name belongs to several old families in Armagh, Galway and Tipperary. Curiously, the trade union leader James Larkin led Dublin's workers during the great Lockout of 1913.
Arms associated with the Larkin name
Coats of arms associated with the Larkin surname follow Irish heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full Larkin family history
This is only a glimpse of the Larkin story. The full Larkin history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Larkin coat of arms. Get the full Larkin report.
Larkin name FAQ
What does the Larkin name mean?
Descendant of Lorcán (fierce). Common variants include O'Larkin, Larkins.
Where does the Larkin surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Larkin coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Larkin coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).