The Larkin Clan Association is a non-profit; non-political, volunteer group of persons with links to a common surname. The aim of the association is the collection and preservation of family history pertaining to the surname Larkin and variants.

The Larkin association had its beginnings in 1980 when David Larkin began a one name study of the surname. The first family reunion took place near Brisbane, Queensland in 1980 and the LARKIN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY was formed.

Records have been collected on the Larkin name in Australia, Ireland, and England with some references from Canada, USA, South Africa and New Zealand. Newsletters were published bi-monthly, then quarterly up to 1984 and since then an annual journal has been issued from 1985.

In 1988 Mr. Larkin restricted his own study of the name to those families from Connacht -being the Ui Maine sept of the family- but has kept records of all the other Irish septs as well as family references around the world. Contributions relating to all other Larkin families are still welcomed, and sought, as a reference to aid enquiries from others researching the name.

All records held by the association are available to assist any researcher.

Since the establishment of the Clans of Ireland in 1989 the natural transition was to then change the name to LARKIN CLAN ASSOCIATION and become a registered clan.

Membership fees are Aud $12 per annum plus a joining fee of $20. Life Membership is also available at $100.

This entitles members to the members handbook, one copy of the annual journal and all the support of professional research advice and assistance in compiling their branch of the family tree. A Clan certificate (depicting the Irish heritage of the clan and signed by the Honorary Clan Chieftain.) is also available to registered members.

Research and Clan gatherings are funded and organised by methods deemed necessary at the time. Donations towards the upkeep and extension of the clan holdings and research are graciously accepted at any time.

Origins of the name

O'Lorcain - O'Lurkaine, Lorkan, Lorkin, Larkin, Larken, Larkings &c...

descendant of Lorcan (diminutive of Lorc -rough or fierce).

The name of several distinct families in different parts of IRELAND, of whom the following were in early times the most distinguished.

O'Lorcain of Leinster This family, which is of the royal race of Leinster, was seated in the barony of Forth in south-east Co. Wexford until dispossessed soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, and is still numerous in Leinster.

O'Lorcain 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 Bresail.

O'Lorcain of Ui Maine A Galway family of the same stock as the O'Maddens, still numerous and respectable in that county.

O'Lorcain of Meath The head of which was anciently Lord of Caille Follamain.

O'Lorcain 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.

-Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall (Irish names & surnames) Rev Patrick Woulfe, Dublin 1923.

O'Lorcan, Larkin

The prefix O has been entirely dropped from this old and distinguished Gaelic surname. It was borne by a number of distinct and unrelated septs. James Larkin (1876-1947) was a notable Labour leader particularly in the great Dublin strike of 1913.

-Irish Families, Arms and Origins . Dr Edward MacLysaght. Dublin 1957.

O'Lorkan, Lorkin Rare variants of Larkin.

O'Larkin -O'Lorcain (probably from Lorc, an old name denoting rough or fierce).

The name of four distinct septs. It is now numerous and is mainly found in its original locations.

-Surnames of Ireland. Dr Edward MacLysaght. Dublin 1969.

I have used the aforegoing references from Woulfe & MacLysaght in my search for the origins of the family septs. I was fortunate enough to corrospond with Dr. MacLysaght on a number of occasions in the early 1980's when he was able to direct me to many sources before he died in 1987 aged 99.

Using these references as a starting point I have unfolded the origins of each of the five septs, but have found no real reference to the Kinel Owen family of Donegal mentioned by Duald MacFirbisigh (1585-1670) noted in Woulfe's article, except for the placename Largnalarkin (Larkin's glen) in the parish of Inishkeel, Boylagh barony, Co. Donegal. I have not been able to locate a possible eponym of the name in Cinel Owen genealogies.

The name is predominantly a ninth century Leinster name will less references found elsewhere. The earliest reference to the name is Fiachna Lorcain ca 650AD in the pedigree of the Ui Eathach (Iveagh) Co. Down.

Lorcan Mac Cellach was a provincial King of Leinster 846-872 of the Ui Ceinnsellaigh line in Wexford. He is the earliest reference to the name in Leinster and it appears that many families of Leinster used the name after this. By the eleventh century it was found both as personal as well as an hereditary surname. Some of the earliest reference as a surname are:-

955 Raigain Mac Finnachta O'Lorcain, killed at Lough Key.

1003 Duffslaine O'Lorcain, Abbot of Emly, Tipperary died.

1016 Gillachrist O'Lorcain, Lord of Caille Fallan, Meath died.

1024 Tadhg O'Lorcain, King of Ui Ceinnsellaigh, Wexford.

1037 Ruadhri O'Lorcain, Lord of Ui Niallan, Armagh, died.

See each of the five septs for further references.

Stages in the use as a surname were the original Irish language of Ui Lorcain or O'Lorcain until after the Norman invasion and subsequent English influence the O was discarded to leave the name Lorcan and Lorkin found around the country. By the eighteenth century the name had become anglicised to the more common Larkin, Larken, Larkan and Larcom.

In 1846 the eminent gaelic scholar Dr. John O'Donovan wrote of the Galway sept...

the family is still in Hy Many

and some members of it are so respectable

that it is to be regretted

they do not restore the O.

Variant spellings

What can be seen from the Irish spellings is the discarding of the prefix O at an early time and the resumption that did not occur as was the case with most other native Irish names.

955 Ui Lorcain Raigain macfinnachta, died at Lough Ce, Roscommon.

1021 Ua Lorcain Ruadhri, lord of Ui Niallain, (slain at Craebh Caille, Armagh 1037)

1024 O'Lorcain Mael Mordha, king of Ceinnselaigh, slain at Wexford.

1363 I Lorcain Nimeas macmahoun, died at Clonfert, Galway.

1365 O'Lorkan Owen, Prebendary of Ballymoe, Armagh.

1367 O'Lorchan Gilbert, Seneschal of Armagh.

1490 Lorcan Peter, Rector of St. Michael's, Waterford.

1519 Lorkan Nicholas, Curate of Drogheda, Louth.

1565 O'Lorcayne John, Vicar of Kilquain. Galway.

1654 O'Larkan Rory macmollrony, Killimor, Galway.

1659 O'Lurkane 5 families in O'Neilland, Armagh.

1659 Larcan 6 families in Bargy, Wexford.

1659 Larkan Ezecell, Merchant of Dublin.

1659 Larkin James, gentleman of Clonlyon, Offaly.

1659 Lurkane 4 families in Ballybritt, Offaly.

1659 Lurken 8 families in Garrycastle, Offaly.

1665 O'Larkane William, Mogorbane, Tipperary.

1665 Lorcane Richard, Shillelogher, Kilkenny.

1665 Lorkane Loughlin, Lorrha, Tipperary.

1665 Lurkan Connor, Dorrha, Tipperary.

1667 Larkine Samuel, baptised Templemore, Derry.

1706 Lorkin John, Tanariffe, Cork.

1750 Larcon Fergus, Borney, Ikerrin. Tipperary.

1757 Larking John, baptised St. Peter's, Dublin.

1780 Larkins Catherine, married in Co. Clare.

1787 Larkon Anne, died at Rahan, Offaly.

1826 Larken Thomas, Ballynaskelly, Ardrahan. Galway.

1851 Lerkin Rose, married at Dromore, Co. Down.

1855 Larcom Peter, Ardranny, Clontuskert. Galway.

1857 Larkman Isaac, married at Dublin.

1865 Larkhan John, baptised Malin, Donegal.

1866 Lurkin Anne, baptised Castletown, Meath.

1904 Larkham James, baptised Belfast, Antrim.

James Larkham of Belfast and John Larkhan of Donegal are most likely Scottish variants of the English family. They are not native Irish. McLarkin is also found in Fermanagh, while MacLurcan and MacLurkan in Antrim. There however are NOT Larkin variants. They are corrupted anglicisations of Clarkin, a Monaghan name. See Mark's Monaghan Site on my links to other sites.

The five septs of O'Lorcain

The five septs in Ireland roughly corrospond with the five ancient provinces of Ireland. See "BOOKS" for the latest offering "The Ancient Septs of O'Lorcain, a full history of each sept.

O'Lorcain of Leinster were of the Royal race of that province seated originally at Kilcullen and Castledermot in Kildare, and Lady's Island, Carnsore Pt, Wexford. They were a sub sept with O'Dugan where they supported king Dermot MacMurrogh in welcoming the Normans at Bannow in 1169. This was rewarded by almost immediate dispossession of their native land.

The eponymous ancestor was Lorcan, son of Felim, king of Leinster 923 to 941, who died at Dublin. His sons were kings of Leinster and lords of Ui Mureadach; Ui Dunchadha & Ui Ceinnselaig. First of the name were Tadg O'Lorcain king of Ceinselaig 1024 to 1030 who died at Glendalough, Wicklow; and Ruaidri O'Lorcain tainist (heir) of Leinster 1036.

Augaire O'Lorcain of Castledermot was lord of Ui Mureadach and Ui Dunchadha when he died on his pilgrimage to Glendalough in 1112.

The family spread to Kilkenny where the town and parish of BALLYLARKIN near Freshford is named for them. These Larkins were seated here immediatly following their dispossession in Kildare by the Normans. During their short lived century and a half occupation of this land they built a 13th century Abbey in upper Ballylarkin. A small military style church with decorative windows and only one small side door. In the field opposite they built Ballylarkin Castle but were supplanted here by the English family of Shortall. Robert Fitzjohn Shortall of Claragh owned Ballylarkin by 1326. The castle was called Dwogh by this family in 1635.

By 1420 the family were recorded as Chiefs of Foharta Cairn (Carnsore Point, the most south easterly point of Wexford). The family remained numerous in the barony of Bargy. Larkinstown near Wexford; Ballylarkin in north Wexford & Larkin's Cross at Barntown all take their name from this family.

Some personae included THOMAS LARKIN transported to Australia 1793 who became a whaler on the Governor's schooner. JOHN LARKIN of Laois was transported in 1837 and became a government engineer. Rev PATRICK LARKIN of Rathangan, Wexford was an Augustinian priest during the pioneering days of North Queensland, Australia, who drowned in the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1902. Rev JAMES FINIAN LARKIN (1899-1962) another Augustinian, came from Gusseraine and built many churches in north Queensland before being transferred to Hammersmith, London as prior. His last appointment was at St. John's lane, Dublin. DENIS LARKIN of New Ross was a member of the old Board of Guardians and a noted football player. JOHN LARKIN of Murrinstown was on the Wexford Rural District Council and associated with Wexford Meat & Bacon factory (Clover Meats).

Alderman JAMES LARKIN of Kilkenny was on the Wexford Corporation in the 1920's while his brother LAURENCE LARKIN owned a bakery at Stonebridge from 1932-1957.

Rev SEAMUS LARKIN from Gusseraine was the principal of St. Peter's College in Wexford while his brother LARRY LARKIN was a well known journalist and county football star.

O'Lorcain of Oriel were important in early times and are still numerous in Co. Armagh.

The head of this family was lord of Farney in Monaghan and lord of Ui Niallain in Armagh.

The eponym was Lorcan, son of Coscrach, lord of Ui Niallain, slain by Donagan, son of Fogarty, lord of Farney in 879. Cenfoyle macLorcan was Dean of Clogher and successor to the Abbot of Armagh in 931. The first of the name was Ruaidri Ua Lorcain lord of Ui Niallain, slain at Callan river, Armagh in 1037. MacGilladhide O'Lorcain lord of Farney and Seneschal of Armagh died with his son Cumidhe O'Lorcain in 1079. Flann O'Lorcan noble priest of Louth died 1081.

The centuries following (1365-1551) record many ecclesiastics of the family as Canons and Seneschals of Armagh, Tyrone and Louth. LAURENCE O'LORKAN was successor to St. Muiredach at Monasterboice 1547-1551. The Larkins of Lough Lorkan (Moyrourkan lake) were hosts to the Earl of Tyrone during Mountjoy's campaign in 1601. The chief of this family in Elizabethan times was TURLOUGH DUFF O'LORKAN granted a pardon in 1621. His sons DONAL DUFF and TURLOUGH LORKAN were residents of Loughgall in 1641. JOHN LARKAN forfeited his property under the Williamite confiscations of 1688. The family of "Big Jim" LARKIN traces back to JOHN LARKIN of Ballintemple (1716-1800) buried at Killevy, Armagh. The family are still in this district.

O'Lorcain of Ui Maine are now by far the most numerous of the five septs. Being on the borders of Munster, Tipperary and Meath there are sure to be some spill-over of these septs but by all accounts the majority are native to the diocese of Clonfert in earlier times.

This family descends from the princes of Ui Maine and Siol nAnmchadha being a sub sept of the O'Maddens. The family takes its name from Lorcan, son of Moran, who flourished about 905. His son Donal macLorcan, one time lord of Aidhne, died at Clonmacnoise 937. His grandson Raigain macfinnachta O'Lorcan died near Lough Ce, Roscommon, in the service of Sean Ferghal O'Ruairc, king of Connacht, in 955. The earliest chieftain of this sept so recorded was UaLorcain, abbot of Killeigh, Offaly who died in 1059. (he is alluded to as a chieftain by simply being referred to by surname only). Muirgheas O'Lorcain was slain in 1121 at the Termon of Lismore, Waterford, while accompanying Turlogh O'Conor, King of Connacht and Hugh O'Heyne, lord of Aidhne. Nimeas macMahoun O'Lorcain died at Clonfert in 1363 and his son Tomas O'Lorcain is mentioned in 1414. Another Tomas O'Lorcain, chief poet to O'Madden died in 1490. John O'Lorcayn was vicar of Kilquain in 1565. A number of the family are mentioned in the 1653 transplantations and 1659 census in east Galway parishes and in the west Offaly parish of Lusmagh, which once belonged to Galway. James Larkin, gentleman of Clonlyon, Offaly was a large householder in 1659. Bernard Lorcan of Meelick and his family are recorded in the "Meelick Chronicles" from 1662 to 1755. A number of this family were Friars, Nuns and Guardians of Meelick during the 17th to 19th century. More than half of the Larkin population in Ireland recorded during the 1850's belonged to this sept.

O'Lorcain of Meath are a very small sept in numerical terms, perhaps due to the close proximity of the capital Dublin. The head of this family resided at Kells and the family were spread to adjacent territories of Luney and Morgallion. The family, of the Southern Ui Neil, descend from Lorcan, son of Cathal Mor -king of Meath 861-2. Lorcan's son was killed in 896 by Leinstermen after he had blinded and set fire to the house of Mulrooney, son of the High-King Flann Sinna. Giollachriost O'Lorcain, lord of Caille Fallamhan was killed at Kells in 1016 by the O'Neills. The family have not been prominent in public life since that time. MICHAEL LARKIN (1776-1788) was buried at Killaconnigan by his brother John.

MARGARET LARKING was one of the protestant householders recorded at Rathmolyon in 1802. MICHAEL LARKIN, born 1775 Trim, was transported to Australia in 1816 and became a shepherd to Charles Throsby at Moss Vale, New South Wales, where my ancestors were prominent in the 1840's. The family has been recorded at Morgallion, Lune, Kells, Moyfenrath and Delvin during the 1830 -1860 period.

O'Lorcain of Tipperary are an ecclesiastical family of royal DalgCais blood. The family descend from Lorcan, (son of Lachtna, abbot of Killaloe 900) king of Dalcassians who died at Cashel 940. His son Cennedigh became king of Cashel 942 and was the father of the celebrated BRIAN BORU king of Cashel & Munster, and High-King of Ireland 926-1014.

The first of the family name was Duffslaine O'Lorcain, abbot of Emly 1003. Murtogh O'Lorcain was abbot of Lorrha where he died in 1014. Lorrha and Ikerrin in north Tipperary were the major seats of this family who also spread to O'Briensbridge on the Clare-Limerick border. Hugh macMaelure, abbot of Cork, was the maternal grandson of Innreachtaigh O'Lorcain where he died in 1042. The sons of Lorcan macLorcan of Ballymackeogh slew Brian O'Brien of Ara in 1350. Daniel Lorkan of Ballinglanny had his will proved in 1683 while John Lorkin of Tanariffe, Cork also had his will proved in 1706.

LOUGHLIN LARKIN of Knockballymeagher received the sum of 15 pounds from the will of his neighbour James Hutchinson in 1718. FERGUS and WILLIAM LARCON were residents of Borney parish, Ikerrin in 1750. MARGARET LARKIN was a grocer at Carrick on Suir 1788.

David Larkin

Irish research consultant

Record agent

Family historian

Author

I can help you find the records you need to get back on track

• addresses
• cemetery transcriptions
• census returns and substitutes
• civil registration indexes
• directories
• family histories and origins
• Griffith's valuations
• heraldry
• history -general and local
• journals
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• wills indexes and extracts

I am a family historian and IRISH RESEARCH CONSULTANT with over twenty years experience in this field. I am presently historian and Honorary Chieftain elect of the LARKIN CLAN ASSOCIATION and conduct regular Irish research workshops for Genealogical and Family Historical societies. I am a former President of the GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY of QUEENSLAND., former chairman of GSQ North Brisbane branch, and foundation chairman of GSQ Irish Research Group -a position I held for nine years.I am presently a member of Caboolture Family History Research Group and the QUEENSLAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY. I have organised ten family gatherings including an International Gathering of the Clan in Ireland 1992, and have written several books on Irish genealogy, family histories and presented papers and lectures to many Queensland Genealogy and interstate family history societies.

I am available for conducting research workshops, talks and display presentations relating to Irish family history (anywhere in Queensland and northern NSW, -elsewhere by arrangement).

February 2001 Tenterfield, NSW. Irish Seminar.