Surname McLauren - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McLauren: What does the surname McLauren mean?
The surname McLauren is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Mac Labhrainn" which translates to "son of Labhrainn" or "son of Laurence". The name Laurence is derived from the Latin "Laurentius" meaning "man from Laurentum", an ancient Roman city. Therefore, the surname McLauren can be understood as "son of the man from Laurentum". This name reflects the old practice among the Celtic and Gaelic people of Scotland where surnames were essentially genealogical markers, indicating one's lineage or paternal heritage. The surname McLauren is thus an indicator of a historical familial bond or descent from a person named Laurence. It is important to remember variations in spelling such as McLaren, MacLaren, etc., as surnames often changed over centuries due to factors like immigration and Anglicization.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLauren: Where does the name McLauren come from?
The surname McLauren is of Scottish origin and is a version of the more common surname McLaren. The McLaren clan can be traced back to the 12th century, particularly originating from areas of central Scotland and Perthshire. The prefix "Mc" in Scottish or Irish surnames means "son of," hence McLauren would translate to "son of Lauren."
As it's a relatively rare variation of McLaren, it's not common anywhere in particular today. However, the McLaren version can be found in places where there was historically significant Scottish immigration, such as in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In terms of concentration per capita, Scotland would potentially still have the highest number of McLarens, and by extension, McLaurens. It must be emphasized that this spelling is quite unusual, and might often be mistaken or misprinted as McLaren, a much more common surname.
Variations of the surname McLauren
The surname McLauren is a variant of the Scottish surname McLaurin, which is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Labhruinn" meaning "son of Laurence". Other variants of this name can include McLaren, MacLaren, MacLaurin, McClaren, MacLaurine, McLauren, McLarin, McLaron, MacClarren and MacClarence. Variations can result from the translation of the Gaelic name into English, as well as local dialects and spelling practices. Similarly, phonetic spelling changes often occurred. While the Mc or Mac prefix commonly signifies "son of", in some instances the prefix may be dropped completely resulting in surnames such as Lauren or Laren.
The popularity of the McLaren variation can be attributed to notable figures such as Bruce McLaren, a New Zealand race-car designer, driver, engineer, and inventor. Please remember that spelling variations can depend heavily on the country of origin, period of emigration, and the preference of the individual or enumerator recording the information. Despite the many potential variations, all versions hold the same original root and meaning "son of Laurence". This is common among many Irish and Scottish surnames.
Famous people with the name McLauren
- Ralph Lauren (also known as Ralph Lifshitz), American fashion designer, philanthropist, and business executive.
- Gavin McLaren, Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and actor.
- Luke McLaurin, American soccer player.
- Wilfrid McLaurin, American track and field athlete.
- Dayana McLaurin, American beauty queen and model.
- Lance McLaurin, American Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Jaylen McLaurin, American basketball player.
- Josh McLaurin, American swimmer.
- Raven McLaurin, American artist, fashion designer, and film director.
- Bob McLaurin, American decathlete.