Nolan Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Nolan mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Nolan name
Nolan comes from Ó Nualláin, "descendant of Nuallán", a personal name from nuall, "famous, noble", or possibly "shout". The O'Nolans were a sept of County Carlow, in the barony of Forth, and held a hereditary role at the inauguration of the kings of Leinster. The name remains common in Carlow and Wexford.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Nolan name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Nolan name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Nolan name FAQ
What does the Nolan name mean?
Descendant of Nuallán, "famous". Common variants include O'Nolan, Noland, Nowlan.
Where does the Nolan surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Nolan coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Nolan crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Nolan coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).