My soul is beginning to dance as I begin to understand my connection to my grandfather Fred Lane, who was murdered , not long after my grandmother, Lyma Deloria died from Tuberculosis, when my father was four. My father was then raised by my Great- Grandfather, Tipi Sapa, Philip Deloria, and grandmother's sister, Ella Deloria.
This includes why our World Peace Gathering is being held in Cork and why I have always been on the side of those who fought against the English, including my French Huguenots relatives who fought against the Catholic Church and the Kings of France. Eventually. they were genocided abd drivin out of France- Deloria.
Irish Origin of the Name Lane: In Ireland, Lane is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname, Ó Laighin or Ó Luain. Meaning: “descendant of Laighean.”
Laighean was an ancient personal name, derived from the word Laighin, referring to the people of Leinster (Laigin), an ancient province of Ireland. This name is associated with warrior lineages and linked to the use of spears (laighne) in battle.
Ó Luain: Meaning: “descendant of Luan”Luan is an old Irish name meaning “warrior” or “strong.” This form is rarer but appears in Irish records as another root of the Lane surname.
Over time, these Gaelic names were Anglicized under British rule, becoming “Lane” for ease of pronunciation and recordkeeping, especially during the periods of forced assimilation.
Cultural Resonance in Ireland
In Irish genealogical and clan studies, the name Lane appears most commonly in:
Counties Cork and Kerry, especially in Munster, where strongholds of Gaelic heritage.
Early Irish records note Lane families as part of the old Gaelic aristocracy, often with land and influence, and involved in historical resistance to English colonization.
Irish Clan Septs Associated with the Lane Name
In Gaelic Ireland, surnames were originally tied to clan septs—kinship groups or family branches within larger clans. The surname Lane in Ireland, is most commonly associated with the following regions and lineages:
1. Ó Laighin Sept (Munster – Counties Cork and Kerry)
This is the primary Gaelic root of the surname Lane in Ireland.
The Ó Laighin family is historically associated with West Cork and Kerry, particularly around Bantry and Kinsale.
Their name may derive from Laighin, relating to the Leinster people, or possibly from the Irish word "laighean", meaning "spear", suggesting a warrior lineage.
It is believed that this sept ws a minor noble family in Munster, serving local chieftains under the MacCarthy Mór or O’Sullivan Beare dynasties.
2. Ó Luain Sept (Rare, Midlands origin)
The less common Ó Luain is found in Offaly, Meath, and Westmeath.Luan means "warrior" or "hero" in Old Irish.
While this name more commonly became O'Loan or Lohan, it was also sometimes Anglicized to Lane in scattered records, especially after the 17th century.
While coats of arms are historically granted to individuals rather than entire families, certain heraldic designs have become associated with the Lane name over time, particularly for those who held property or knighthood.
The traditional Lane coat of arms associated with Irish bearers of the name:
Coat of Arms (Traditional Depiction)
Shield: Silver (argent) background, symbolizing peace and sincerity
Chevron: A central inverted "V" shape, often representing protection or those who have achieved notable service
Three red roses: Symbolizing beauty, dignity, and grace under pressure; also associated with loyalty and martyrdom
Crest: A lion or demi-lion (half lion) rising, often symbolizing strength, bravery, and guardianship
Associated mottos include: "Garde le Foi– “Truth Conquers" – "Vincit Veritas"“Keep the Faith”
Migration and Transformation
Many Irish Lane families emigrated during the Great Famine (1845–1852) and the Penal Laws era, when Irish Catholics were stripped of land and identity. In North America, Australia, and beyond, they often re-established themselves under the Anglicized form Lane, continuing to carry with them the ancestral memory and, in many cases, merging into Indigenous communities or participating in colonial transformation through spiritual resistance and resilience.
Until now, I was ashamed that my last name was Lane, because I thought my Grandfather was English, and to be honest, I hated the Aristocratic English, especially the English idea that their kings, queens, and " nobles" were above everyone else, although when I was England in 1963 and 1985, I enjoyed and got along with the "commoners." And then there is my older sister Jane Goodall adopted and named by my beloved father in 2004, and my brother Cheyne Towers, and others.
For me kinship is far greater than Kingship, with the exception of the former King of Thailand ( I don't know very much about his son) the King of Bhutan, and the Kings and Queens of Africa who did and are fighting against the colonizers.
That is why I have never spoken about my Grandfather, even though my father told me many good stories about him. At the sametime it important to remember that only colonized people, and only hurt people, hurt people, and only spiritually sick peoples infect others with spiritual sickness.
Most importantly for me is to remember the every human being was created by Wakan Tanka, the Great Mystery, and everyone and all that has happened and will happen is part of our Creator's Divine Plan. This stage of the Divine Plan is to End War, to enter our spiritual adulthood, and restore our Mother Earth.