Surname McLaurie - Meaning and Origin
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McLaurie: What does the surname McLaurie mean?
The surname McLaurie is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Labhran, meaning "Laurence." It was first found in Midlothian, where they held a family seat from very early times. Like many Scottish surnames, McLaurie is a patronymic surname, meaning it was formed by appending the Gaelic patronymic prefix "Mac-" (meaning 'son of') to the personal name of the father of the clan's initial bearers. Therefore, McLaurie can be construed to mean "son of Laurence." The spelling variations of McLaurie include Laurie, Laurison, Lawrie, Lawrence and others. These spelling variations occurred as a result of the translation from Gaelic into English, which not only had a different spelling system, but also lacked some sounds required for Gaelic pronunciation. McLAURIE can be seen as an anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Labhrain, further emphasizing this lineage. This surname is popular amongst those of Scottish descent, and can be found in regions where Scots have migrated, such as North America and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLaurie: Where does the name McLaurie come from?
The surname McLaurie is a variant of the Scottish name McLaurin, tracing its origins to the ancient Pictish-Scottish family. The name is derived from the personal name Lawrence, which originally means “from Laurentium,” a town in Italy noted for its laurel trees. The native Gaelic form of the name is MacLabhruinn, meaning 'son of Labhran' or 'son of Lawrence'.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillecolm MacLaran from 1392, from Perthshire, Scotland. McLaurie is less common as a surname, but various spellings can be found globally due to emigration, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. Ancestors of the McLaurie family migrated to Ireland, England, and North America, contributing to the mix of spellings found today.
Currently, the McLaurie surname is primarily found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Scotland remains the traditional home of the surname where you'll find most of the people bearing this name. Due to the various spellings of the surname, it is relatively uncommon, and its distribution is widespread rather than concentrated in a specific region.
Variations of the surname McLaurie
The surname McLaurie is of Scottish origin and can be found in various forms due to regional variations, pronunciation, and the transcription of the name from Gaelic to English. Variants and spelling forms may include: McLaurin, McLarin, McLaurine, McLaury, McLorie, McLaurien, McLorrie, McLorin, McLorraine, and McLauiren.
The surname McLaurie is also believed to be a derivative of the Gaelic name MacLabhrainn, which means "son of Labhran" or "son of Laurence." Therefore, it might be connected to other surnames derived from the name Laurence such as Lawrence, Laurens, Lorenz, and Larson.
Another variant could be the anglicized version of the name, which simply drops the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix, resulting in names like Laurie or Lorie.
It should also be noted that variations can also occur due to translation and Anglicanization in different countries. For instance, the names could change slightly depending on whether they were translated to English in Ireland, Scotland, or America.
However, the availability and popularity of these variations can vary greatly, as some forms may be infrequently used or could have died out entirely. The data regarding the distribution of these surnames and their variations can change over time due to cultural blending and shifts in language use.
Famous people with the name McLaurie
- Seth MacLaughlin: Award-winning American Actor, known for his work in films like Ted, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and Family Guy.
- Leslie MacLaurin MacMillan: Canadian abstract expressionist artist.
- Maud B. McLaurin: Noted biochemist, educator, and civil rights activist.
- William B. McLaurin: Brigadier General in the United States Army Reserve.
- Colin McLaurie: Scottish Broadway Actor known for movie roles such as Far and Away and The Saint.
- James McLaurie: Irish-born former Mayor of Toronto, Canada.
- Bobo MacLaurie: Scottish-born Actor and Singer best known for his work in the television series, Minder.
- Louis McLaurie: Canadian Marine Biologist, Conservationist.
- William A. McLaurie: Baseball Hall of Famer and President of the National League from1890-1893.
- Robert "Red" McLaurin McLaurin: nicknamed "Red", a U.S Air Force Officer, aerospace engineering consultant, and first Inspector General of the Soviet Union routine inspection visit in 1992.