Surname Lavery - Meaning and Origin
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Lavery: What does the surname Lavery mean?
The surname Lavery is derived from the Irish Gaelic name “O Leamhra”. It is believed to be of the Ui Maine group of families and believed to be descended from the ancient Irish Prince Eoghan whose origin dates back to the early part of the 5th century. This stems from the Irish words “leamhar” which means “one who has strength and liberty”.
The surname is predominately found in the North of Ireland in areas such as Tyrone, Derry, and Antrim, and there is a distinct concentration of the Lavery surname in the area of County Derry.
Lavery is also used as a forename in some countries due to the legacy of Saint Patrick, considered the Patron Saint of Ireland, after the 5th century invasion of Ireland by the Anglo-Saxons. Lavery was adopted as a first name in honor of the Saint and became a last name to many families across the Irish isle during the Middle Ages when people used the “O” prefix to denote sons of.
Thus, those bearing the Lavery surname are commonly associated with being descendants of this ancient royal family and, by extension, the Irish people. They are often viewed as being brave, independent, and have a deep cultural connection with the country of their origin.
Order DNA origin analysisLavery: Where does the name Lavery come from?
The last name Lavery is a popular surname of Irish origin, and is particularly common in Ireland. According to recent estimates from the Forebears website, the name Lavery is held by around 6,000 people in Ireland and over 11,000 people across the world. In addition to Ireland, the name is popular in the United Kingdom, with over 4,000 people holding the surname in England, and nearly 1,000 people in Scotland.
Lavery is also popular in the United States, where the surname is held by 1,831 people, mainly in New York and Pennsylvania. In recent times, the name has also become popular in Canada, and is currently held by 397 people.
In Europe, Lavery can also be found in Spain, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark. In Spain, the name Lavery is held by over 200 people, mainly in Madrid. In France, the surname Lavery is slightly less common, but still held by 152 people in the country.
Due to the name's Irish roots, Lavery is also popular in Australia, where it is held by around 500 people. Finally, the name can also be found in South Africa, with around 300 Laverys currently living in the country.
Variations of the surname Lavery
The surname Lavery is derived from the Irish surname Ó Lámhargáin, which means "descendant of Lámhargán". It is sometimes spelled as Lavery, Laverie, Lavergne or Lavrin.
The variants and spellings of the Lavery surname are numerous and include Lavigne, Lavoie, Libby, Levier, Levine, Levon, Lever, Leverick, Leveridge, Levers, Leversee, Lavrie, Lavry, Laverene, Laverman, Laverentz, Lavern, Laverne, Laverye, Laveryne, Laveryte, Lavarene, Lavarge, Lavarin, Lavary, Lavere, Laviano, Levario, Levary, Lavers, Laveck, and Laveigné.
The Lavery surname is found in points around the world, such as Ireland, England, Canada, United States, and even as far as New Zealand, but is most closely associated with Ireland due to its origins. It has many alternative spellings, from common names like Levi, to culturally unique surnames like Lavrin or Leversee.
Modern-day Laverys may be descended from a variety of different families in Ireland, all converging on the surname. For example, a branch of the Barrett surname may have combined with the Lavery surname, or both may have derived from a separate ancestral name. Regardless of the origins, the Lavery surname appears to have been around for some time.
Famous people with the name Lavery
- Steve Lavery: an NFL coach
- Paul Lavery: a British-Canadian actor, known for roles in Flashpoint and Murdoch Mysteries
- Karen Lavery: an American justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- John Lavery: a famous Irish artist
- Simon Lavery: an English actor, known for roles in Coronation Street and the Entire Universe
- Gareth Lavery: a British professional rugby league footballer
- Phil Lavery: a former American football coach
- Jack Lavery: a former English footballer
- Amy Lavery: a professional squash player from Canada
- Janice Lavery: a Scottish Labour politician