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Lynch Family History
Ó Loingsigh - anglicised as Lynch, and earlier as Lynchey etc, from 'loingseach' - a mariner, from 'loingeas' - a fleet or navy.Ó Loingseacháin - anglicised Lynchehan and, in later times, Lynch. Diminutive of 'loingseach'.
De Lench - anglicised as Lynch, earlier Lench, from Anglo-Norman French; the origin is unknown.
Several unrelated septs of Ó Loingsigh existed in Ireland, perhaps the most important being the Chiefs of Dalriada in the very north of Ireland; they are often mentioned in the 'Annals' ( 'Four Masters','Ulster' 'Clonmacnoise' & c). Fr Woulfe says in his 'Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall' (1923) that they are still numerous there. Ó Loingsigh of Owney in present Co Tipperary were well known in the land; as were the former Chiefs of Cinel Bacaid in Co Cavan, still numerous there. There was a sept in Thomond who were the Dalcassian Chiefs there, and numerous in Cos Clare and Limerick. There was a sept of the Corca Laoighe in West Cork; another sept of Ó Loingsigh of the Uí Fiachrach in Sligo, and another in Co Meath.
Woulfe says the name Lynch also derives from Ó Loingseacháin, a sept of Cinel Eoghan, descended from Loingseach, King of Ireland. This name, in the form of Lynch, he says, is found in modern times in Cos Donegal, Mayo and Cork.
De Lench, was a Norman family, originally settled in Knock, Co Meath and Macherydernan in Westmeath. It is this Norman family's arms which are displayed here, with the famous lynx crest (a pun on their name) and the blazon of 'azure, a chevron between 3 trefoils slipt, or', not those of Ó Loingsigh. The leading family moved, circa 14th century, to Galway where they became the most influential of the 'Tribes' of Galway city. 84 members of this family were mayors of the city in a period of 169 years. Their power in Galway was shown by their castles and lands, e.g. Newcastle, Barna, Drimcong & c. In later times they were noted for their support of the Jacobite Cause, and as a consequence lost lands and holdings.
In William Petty's 1659 'Census' of Ireland, Lin and Line are found as a Principal Irish Name in Dunluce/Carey Barony, Co Antrim. Lynsy is also a Principal Irish Name in Clanwilliam Barony Co Tipperary. Lynchy is found as a Principal Irish Name in Tulla Barony Co Clare. Throughout Co Limerick, O Linchy/ Linchy is found in considerable numbers. In Co Cork O Lency, Linchy & c. is found in the baronies of Kerrycurrihy and Iraghticonnor, among others; and Lynch is found in Athlone Barony Co Leitrim. The Norman Lynches are absent, because there are no returns in Petty for Co Galway!
By the time of Griffith's 'Primary Valuation' (1848-64) of Households, most numerous for Lynch are counties Cork (654) Cavan (516) Kerry (400) Meath (307) Limerick (257 + 17 city) Clare (261) Galway (201) Donegal (141) Westmeath (134) and Mayo and Waterford (119) each. These returns suggest a majority of Irish Lynches are of Gaelic, not Norman, extraction.
In R.E. Matheson's 'Varieties & Synonymes of Surnames...in Ireland' (1901) Lynchahan and Lynch are recorded as synonyms in Inishowen, Donegal, and Lynchy/Lynch in Cootehill, Co Cavan. These clearly point to Ó Loingseacháin and Ó Loingsigh, respectively.
There is also an English family of merchants (circa 14th c) from near Canterbury, Kent, whose surname is Lynch, possibly derived from a habitation name in Sussex, from Old English 'hlinc'- slope or hillside.
Two Famous Lynches:
Dominick Lynch Fitz John, 'Dominick Dubh' or Dominic the black, of the Norman tribe, procured Galway city's Charter from King Richard 111 in 1484.
Patrick Lynch (1757-1818) of the Ó Loingsigh Thomond sept, and born in Clare, was a Gaelic scholar and linguist of repute.
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Marga B
We are looking for a James Lynch who immigrated to the US before 1819. We believe he was in the Philadelphia area around 1819. He married Alice M Mohen and had a son named James Lynch born may 2, 1826 in Philadelphia. If this matches anyone's family records we would really appreciate finding more details about him.
Mallory A
My great grandfather was Peter Lynch and immigrated to California in 1870. He was the son of Mathew Lynch and Margret Lynch. I understand he was from Cavan but I don't know much else about my great grandparents.
Mallory A
My great grandfather was Peter Lynch and immigrated to California in 1870. He was the son of Mathew Lynch and Margret Lynch. I understand he was from Cavan but I don't know much else about my great grandparents.
Lynch
James Lynch. Dublin, Ireland. 1890's birth in Ireland. 1930's death in Gary, Indiana
Chas
Hi, Do you have any information on any of the following from Buncrana Donegal. George Lynch farmer who married Bridget Doherty at Cockerhill RC Church Abt 1861. He had a brother named James who married Martha Frield George Lynch Bridget Doherty Lynch had the following children. 1860 Mary. 1862 Elizabeth. 1865 Edward. 1867 Matthew. 1870 Charles My Grandfather. 1872 James.1874 George. 1876 Margaret. Abt 1880 Susan Lynch who migrated to Boston USA. Any descendents out there who wish to add to the family history?
tolkien27us
Looking for descendants connected to John Lynch b.1813 in Donegal, Ireland. John emmigrated to the Boston, USA area via New Brunswick,Canada in 1834. Johns will lists his parents names as James and Bridget Lynch of Donegal. Ive hit a stone wall for the last couple of years and could use some help. Brothers of John are William and Cornelius I believe. Thanks.
Katey
My grandmother - Julia Sullivan married John Lynch. They lived in Banteer, Cork, Ireland. Later moved to the USA. They had 4 children - John, Maurice, Mary Catherine May and Ellen Marie Nell. Any relatives out there?
editor101
For VirginiaKathleen look at my addition to above text re the synonymous usage of Lynchahan and Lynch in 19th century Registers in Inishowen, Donegal, as noted by the Register General Matheson in his Varieties Synonymes of Surnames...in Ireland 1901. This means a strong likelihood of Donegal Lynches being O Loingseachain, especially taken together with the comments of Woulfe, supra.
VirginiaKathleen
My mother always told me we were descended from the Galway Lynches, but her mother Katherine Bridget Lynch and her 7 siblings were born in Moville, Co. Donegal. Her father, Edward Lynch, was a marine engineer, and her mother, Katherine McLaughlin, was a District Nurse. They resided on Quay St. and sadly, died at young ages, when my grandmother was 9 leaving 8 orphaned children 5 of which were minors. They went to live in a Catholic orphanage across the Bay of Inishowen in Derry. My grandmother immigrated to NY and Brooklyn in 1911. Later married John Barr of Ballymacarthur, Donegal. Hello...
alynch
Lynching is attributed to Charles Lynch 17361796, an American Revolutionary who headed a Virginia court punishing supporters of the British. I prefer the story I was passed down, that it originates from a Mayor of Galway, James Lynch, who hung his son from the balcony of his house in 1493.
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