Surname McLaughlen - Meaning and Origin
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McLaughlen: What does the surname McLaughlen mean?
The surname McLaughlen originates from Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Lochlainn" which means "of the lakes". The prefix "Mc" means "son of", thereby McLaughlen could be translated as "son of Lochlainn". The name Lochlainn was popular in the medieval times and it referred to the region of Norway from where the Norse-Viking descendants hailed. Over time, the name has been anglicized and modified into numerous variants such as MacLoughlin, McLaughlin, Laughlin, etc. Since surnames were based on the head of the households back in the day, the bearers of this surname are likely to be descendants of a man named Lochlainn. It's also important to remember that surnames traveled with migratory groups, hence the presence of this surname in places like Scotland, Ireland, and the United States among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLaughlen: Where does the name McLaughlen come from?
The last name McLaughlen originates from Scotland, more specifically from the ancient Scottish clan MacLachlan. The name is Gaelic in origin and is derived from the words "Mac" which means "son of" and "Lachlann" which stands for "land of the lochs." It is a patronymic form of the personal name Lachlan. The Clan MacLachlan was based in the Scottish Highlands, on the shores of Loch Fyne.
As for the present day, the surname is widely dispersed and can be found in many English speaking countries. It's more prevalent in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia due to historical Scottish emigration. Its distribution still has strong holds in Scotland and Northern Ireland due to historical Celtic connections. Due to variations in spelling through generations and across regions, the surname may also be encountered as McLauchlan, McLaughlin, McLoughlin, and others.
Variations of the surname McLaughlen
The surname McLaughlen has many variations and alternative spellings due to regional differences, transcription errors, and the transition from Gaelic to English. It likely evolved from the Irish surname Mac Lochlainn, meaning "son of Lochlann" which referred to Scandinavia or "Land of Lakes".
Common variants and spellings include: McLaughlin, MacLaughlin, McLauchlin, McLochlin, McLauchlan, MacLachlan, MacLochlainn, MacLoughlin, MacLachlin, McLoughlin, Mclaughlan, and MacLaughlan.
Be aware that some variants may represent distinct lineages. For example, McLaughlin is predominant in Northern Ireland, while MacLachlan is found primarily in Scotland. McLoughlin, with its origins in the Irish "Mac Lúchlainn", is a separate surname primarily found in County Roscommon in Ireland. Some names may also be part of different clans - MacLachlan is part of its own Scottish clan, while several McLaughlin surnames belong to different Irish septs.
Surnames evolve over time, and may have changed as families moved, translated their names, or anglicized them. Surnames of the same origin may also have evolved separately, resulting in distinct histories and meanings. Therefore, tracing a surname and its variants can contribute valuable information to genealogical research.
Famous people with the name McLaughlen
- Conan McLaughlin: Canadian professional lacrosse player.
- Jennifer McLaughlin: Comedian, writer, and actress.
- T.J. McLaughlin: Producer, songwriter, and recording artist.
- Chris McLaughlin: Australian former professional rugby league footballer.
- John McLaughlin: American jazz fusion guitarist.
- Quinn McLaughlin: Canadian actress.
- Kelli McLaughlin: American professional soccer player.
- Diane McLaughlin: American award-winning singer-songwriter.
- Hugh McLaughlin: American politician.
- David McLaughlin: Canadian Former public servant.
- Paul McLaughlin: Former British racecar driver.
- A. J. McLaughlin: Canadian medical doctor, writer, and filmmaker.
- Sean McLaughlin: Irish radio and television broadcaster.
- John A. McLaughlin: American former college baseball coach.
- Margaret McLaughlin: American writer and education specialist.