McLaughlin (surname) McLaughlin (surname) M(a)cLaughlin is the most common English form of "Mac Lochlainn", a masculine surname of Irish origin. The feminine form of the surname is "Nic Lochlainn". The literal meaning of the name is "son of "Lochlann"". Note that "Mc" is simply a contraction of "Mac", which is also (albeit rarely) truncated to "M' ". Thus, "MacLaughlin", "McLaughlin" and "M'Laughlin" are the same Anglicism, the latter two merely contractions of the first. The original surname Mac/Nic Lochlainn was borne by a family of Cenél nEógain, a branch of the historic northern O'Neill dynasty, reputedly founded by Niall Noígíallach. This family
McCabe (surname) "MacNab", "McNab", which are from the Gaelic "Mac an Aba", "Mac an Abadh". Bearers of the surname are considered to have settled in Ireland from the Western Isles of Scotland sometime around 1350, employed as gallowglass (mercenary soldiers) to the O'Reillys and O'Rourkes which were the principal septs of Breffny. According to a pedigree written by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh, the MacCabes descend from the MacLeods. In time the MacCabes became a recognised Irish sept, with the chieftain being called "Constable of the two Breffnys". According to MacLysaght in the mid 20th century, statistics then showed that the surname was more