Lynn surname history

In Irish Flynn and O?Flynn are O Floinn, from the adjective flann, meaning "reddish"or "ruddy", which was extremely popular as a personal name in early Ireland. As might be expected, this popularity led to the surname coming into being independently in several different parts of the country, including Clare, Cork (2 families), Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Cavan, Antrim, Fermanagh and Monaghan. The most historically important of these were the families originating in Cork and Roscommon.

One of the two Cork families ruled over a territory in Muskerry between Ballyvourney and Blarney down to the twelfth century. Tradition has it that the MacCarthys were responsible for their fall from power. In any case little is heard of them in later history. The other Cork family, the O Floinn Arda, were so called from the seat of their influence, Ardagh in the parish of Ross in west Cork. By the sixteenth century their authority appears to have waned, though the name remained numerous throughout Co. Cork.

The Roscommon family were centred on the area in the north of the county around the modern town of Castlerea. The chief of the family had the dubious right to ride the same horse as the king of Connacht.

In Co. Antrim the Irish version of the name was O Fhloinn, with the initial "F" silent, so that the anglicised version became "O'Lynn", or simply "Lynn". Other anglicisations of the name include Lind, Linn, Lynd and, occasionally, Lindsay. The O'Lynns ruled over the lands between Lough Neagh and the Irish Sea in south Antrim. (O')Flynn is now numerous throughout Ireland, though significant concentrations are still to be found in north Connacht and the Cork/Waterford areas, roughly corresponding to the original homelands. (O) Lynn is largely confined to Ulster.

The surname was ranked 39th most common in 1890, with 315 births of the name; by 1996 it had risen to 30th.

Edward James Flynn (b. 1845) became Prime Minister of Quebec.

John Flynn (1880-1951) was a Presbyterian missionary in Australia, and founded the Flying Doctor service, earning him the nickname "Flynn of the Inland".

Padraig Flynn (1939 - ) was a member of. Dail Eireann, the Irish parliament, and a minister in five different governments between 1977 and 1993, when he was appointed EU Social Affairs Commissioner.

Liam O?Flynn (1945 - ) is Ireland?s best known contemporary uilleann piper. He has played with the group Planxty, as a soloist in the orchestral works of Shaun Davey, on film soundtracks and with the American composer John Cage.