Glynn Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Glynn Family History

Glynn Family History

The family history of the ancient name Glynn was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Glynn include McGlynn, McGlennon, Glennon, Glenn, McGloin, Maglynn, McGlone, McAloon, Gloon and Monday. This name in Irish is Mag Fhloinn and the latter variants are the anglicized forms of this. This sept came from the Westmeath-Roscommon area.

A sept or clan is a collective term describing a group of persons whose immediate ancestors bore a common surname and inhabited the same territory. It is also the case that many Irish septs or clans that are related often belong to a larger groups, sometimes called tribes. For example the 'Tribes of Galway' consisted of fourteen distinct families. The 'Tribes of Kilkenny' were ten families, etc.

The sept spread West to the River Shannon and even as far North as Donegal. Several priests of the name are recorded in the diocese of Raphoe and one of these was famous in America, he being Dr. Edward MacGlynn, 1837-1900. As Glynn the name is most numerous in North Connacht with Glennon more prevalent in Leinster. McGloin and its other synonyms, McGlone, McAloon, Gloon and Monday are quite widely found in Counties Fermanagh and Derry.The Glynn family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Glynn descendants.