Surname O'Floinn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
O'Floinn: What does the surname O'Floinn mean?
The origin of the Irish surname O'Floinn is derived from the root name 'Flann', which has its origins in the Old Irish name 'Flannabhra'. The literal translation of O'Floinn is 'the descendant of the red man' or the 'red one'. It is one of the most common surnames in Ireland, with the families located mainly in the provinces of Leinster and Munster.
The prefix O' in the surname refers to a male descendant of a clan leader. During ancient times clan chiefs were known as Ollamhs, and the descendants were titled O' followed by the name of the family chief. For example, descendants of the chief of the O'Floinn clan would have the surname O'Floinn.
The O'Floinn clan has had a strong presence in Irish history. Ancient family members were members of the ruling elite in counties such as Kildare, Leitrim and Mayo and many of their descendents went on to become prominent figures in Irish public life. The most notable figure of this family is undoubtedly the famous Irish folklorist, Breandan O’Floinn. During his lifetime, Breandan distinguished himself with his remarkable research into Irish folklore and was known for his enthusiasm for collecting and preserving Irish literature and oral tradition.
The surname O'Floinn can be found all over Ireland and even throughout the world as a result of the mass migrations that occurred in the past. This ancient surname will forever stand as a reminder of the size and influence of the O'Floinn family throughout Irish history.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Floinn: Where does the name O'Floinn come from?
The last name O'Floinn is most commonly associated with Irish and Scottish Gaelic heritage. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Floin, which means "descendant of Flann". Flann was a Gaelic male given name which means "ruddy".
The surname is still found today in all over Ireland and Scotland, in particular in the counties of Cork, Limerick, Kerry, and Clare in Ireland, and in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Argyll, and Ross and Cromarty in Scotland.
O'Floinn is an anglicized form of the surname Ó Floinn, which has been found in various forms throughout Ireland since at least the 12th Century. Those who bear this surname today are descended from the ancient Irish Clann Fhlannóg of what is now County Cork in Ireland.
Outside Ireland and Scotland, the last name O'Floinn can also be found in countries with high emigration from Ireland and Scotland, such as the US, Australia, Canada, Wales, England, The Netherlands, and Germany. In the US, the last name is particularly common in the Mid-Atlantic states as well as in California and Florida.
The O'Floinn family line has remained an important part of Irish and Scottish history, with various bearers making their mark in both countries over the centuries. People who carry the surname today are proud of their symbolic link to the past, and some even seek to trace their family tree back through the generations.
Variations of the surname O'Floinn
The surname O'Floinn is an anglicization of the Irish name Ó Flionn, derived from the personal name Flionn (Modern Irish Flann), a form of the name Flann. O'Floinn is a variation of the O'Flynn surname.
The different spellings and variants of the surname O'Floinn are O'Flynn, Flynn, Flaherty, Flannigan, O'Flannigan, O'Flinn, and O'Flin. The O'Floinn surname can also be found with the Anglicized spellings of O'Floin, O'Flin, O'Flinn, and O'Flynn.
The many variants of the name O'Floinn evolved from centuries of name changes due to the changing language and spelling conventions. The history of the name can be traced back to the 10th century when the Ui Floinn dynasty reigned over the Irish kingdom of Tara.
In some cases, descendants of the Ui Floinn clan have adopted the surname FitzFlann, which is a combination of the Gaelic Fitz, meaning son of, and the originator's personal name Flann. Other surnames to have evolved from the O'Floinn surname include O'Flaherty, Flaherty, O'Flannelly, and O'Flannery.
The O'Floinn surname has spanned many countries, singles out by Irish immigrants seeking new life abroad. Today, the surname O'Floinn is predominantly found in Ireland but also has presence in the United States and Australia.
Famous people with the name O'Floinn
- Donal O'Floinn: Irish musician and theatrical composer
- Deirdre O' Floinn: Irish actress
- Micheál O'Floinn: Irish lawyer and professor
- Brian O'Floinn: Gaelic footballer
- Joe O'Floinn: Irish rugby player
- Cormac O'Floinn: Irish actor
- Páidí O'Floinn: Irish hurling and Gaelic football player
- Eoghan O'Floinn: Irish basketball player
- John O'Floinn: Irish journalist
- Neasa O'Floinn: Irish author and poet
- Enda O'Floinn: Irish actor
- Patrick O'Floinn: Irish politician
- Faolan O'Floinn: Irish movie actor
- Shane O'Floinn: Irish writer and playwright
- Gillian O'Floinn: Irish television presenter
- Tiarnan O'Floinn: Irish singer
- Eoghan O'Floinn: Irish poet and storyteller
- John O'Floinn: American actor
- Seán O'Floinn: Irish actor
- Breon O'Floinn: Irish visual artist