Logan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Logan

What does the name Logan mean?

The surname Logan comes from the original Irish Gealic name Ó Leoghain. Lohan sometimes been unusually mistranslated into Duck, the Irish word for duck being “lacha” which bears only a slight similarity to the original. 1

The surname sometimes appears as Logan, but in many cases, especially in Ulster, this name is of Scottish descendent, brought to Ireland by the plantations.

Early Origins of the Logan family

The surname Logan was first found in County Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where it belonged to the sept whose chiefs were lords of Gailenga Mor, now Morgallion. The annals tell the story of how the men of Teffia (County Meath) slew Cuan O Lothchain, the chief poet of King Malachy II, in 1024 and died miraculously as retribution. Maurice O’Loughan was Bishop of Kilmacduagh from 1254 to 1283. The prominent members of the O Leochain sept were driven across the river Shannon by the Anglo-Norman invasion.

Logan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lohan, O’Lohan, Loughan, Loghan, Logan, Duck and others.

Early Notables of the Logan family

Notable among the family name at this time was

• Cornelius Ambrosius Logan (1806-1853), an American actor and dramatist of Irish parentage…
• His daughter Olivia Logan (1839-1909) became an actress, and his son Cornelius Ambrose Logan (1932-1899) became a physician and a politician…

Logan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Logan is the 454^th most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Logan is ranked the 619^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,297 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Logan is the 392^nd popular surname with an estimated 9,424 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Logan as 340^th with 1,851 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Logan as 534^th with 12,301 people. 6

 Logan migration to the United States+

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Logan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• David Logan who settled in Virginia in 1740
• William Logan, who arrived in Augusta County, Va in 1740 7
• Colon Logan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
• Darby Logan, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 7
• John Logan with his wife and two children settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1765

Logan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Patrick Logan, who arrived in America in 1801 7
• David Logan, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 7
• William Logan, aged 36, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 7
• Geo Logan, aged 30, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 7
• Geo, Logan Jr., aged 25, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 7
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

 Logan migration to Canada+

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Logan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• George Logan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Logan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Hannah Logan, aged 28, who landed in Quebec in 1834
• James Logan, aged 60, who landed in Quebec in 1834
• John Logan, aged 24, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
• Margaret Logan, aged 60, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
• Nancy Logan, aged 22, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

 Logan migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Logan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Charles Logan, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Baring” in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
• Daniel Logan, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the “Albion” on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
• Mr. James Logan who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Bussorah Merchant” on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
• Mr. Robert Logan, (b. 1810), aged 21, Irish tobacconist who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Bussorah Merchant” on 16th August 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
• Mr. Francis Logan, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Dunvegan Castle” on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

 Logan migration to New Zealand+

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Logan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Francis Logan, aged 57, a doctor, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bengal Merchant” in 1840 13
• Janet Logan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bengal Merchant” in 1840 13
• Housten Francis Logan, aged 15 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bengal Merchant” in 1840 13
• Mr. T. Logan, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship “Bengal Merchant” arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 14
• Mrs. Logan, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship “Bengal Merchant” arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 14
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Logan (post 1700)+

• Henry Lee Logan (1946-2023), American ABA basketball player
• Ronald “Ron” Logan (1938-2022), American businessman, a Disney Legend, Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Entertainment
• Judson Campbell “Jud” Logan (1959-2022), American gold medalist in the hammer throw at the 1987 Pan American Games and later competed in four Summer Olympics, starting in 1984; he died of complications from COVID-19
• Giuseppi Logan (1935-2020), American jazz musician, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; he died from COVID-19
• Richard Leroy “Dick” Logan (1930-2016), American NFL football player for the Green Bay Packers (1952–1953)
• Brigadier-General Francis Vincent Logan (b. 1891), American Assistant Commanding General 26th Division (1942-1943) 15
• John Alexander Logan Jr. (1865-1899), American United States Army General, Medal of Honor recipient
• John Logan (1747-1807), American pioneer and Indian fighter who fought with Daniel Boone
• James Harvey Logan (1841-1928), American horticulturist, creator of the loganberry
• James Marion Logan (1920-1999), United States Army soldier, Medal of Honor recipient

The Logan Motto+

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Hoc majorum virtus
Motto Translation: This is the valour of my ancestors.