Surname McLaw - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McLaw: What does the surname McLaw mean?
The last name McLaw is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "MacLachlainn," which translates to "son of Lachlann." The name Lachlann in turn originates from the lands of Lochlann, a term often used in ancient Ireland to refer to Scandinavia or Viking territories. Thus, the McLaw name can suggest ancestry connected with the historic Vikings and their excursion into Ireland and Scotland. Like many ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ surnames, it represents a patronymic naming tradition, indicating an individual as the son or descendant of a forefather named Lachlann. It’s important to remember that translations of names may not perfectly reflect their true cultural meanings or ancestry due to the countless linguistic, historical, and regional influences on family names. Therefore, the meaning can vary and may have other interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLaw: Where does the name McLaw come from?
The last name McLaw is of Scottish origin, stemming from the Gaelic culture. The prefix "Mc" in Scottish surnames typically means "son of," although the exact surname McLaw is not directly linked to a specific meaning in Gaelic. Over the years, it has transformed through different spelling variations including MacClave, MacCleave, etc. This surname is linked to Western Scotland and the Hebrides Islands, with some family members historically linked to the region of Strathclyde. However, keep in mind that Scottish people have a long history of emigration, so you can find Scottish surnames, including McLaw, all over the world. As for today, due to migration and spread of family lines, the surname McLaw can be found in various countries, but still remains relatively rare. Given the Scottish origin, it's likely most common in Scotland or places with significant Scottish diaspora, like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. To assess accurately where it is most common today, one would need specific genealogical and demographic data.
Variations of the surname McLaw
The surname McLaw is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic elements "Mac" meaning "son," and "Law," from the personal name Law, which is a short form of Lawrence, derived from the Latin Laurentius, meaning 'from Laurentium', a town in Italy.
There are many variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin as McLaw that might have been created due to differences in dialects, conversion from Gaelic to English, and simple misspellings over time. These variants and similar surnames include MacLaw, McLaws, McLawes, McLaue, MacLaws, MacLaue, McLawe, Maclaw, McLaw's, McLau, McLae, McGlaw, MacLea and McLea.
McLau could be a phonetic variant due to different pronunciation of the 'w' in different dialects. McLae, McLea and MacLea could be versions where 'w' is replaced by 'e' to correspond to more modern name structures. McGlaw could be a version where 'c' is replaced by 'g' due to phonetic similarities.
The 'Mac' prefix means 'son of,' making these names patronymic, therefore it could also be found as a prefix to other surnames, hence expanding the possible variants greatly. The anglicized form of the name can also be Lawrence itself because the personal name Law is a diminutive form of Lawrence.
Famous people with the name McLaw
- John McLaws: a prominent Scottish-born Confederate general during the American Civil War.
- Adam McLaws: a retired Scottish professional footballer who made over 300 appearances in the Scottish Premier League.
- Cameron McLaws: an American political consultant and lobbyist.
- William F. McLaws: a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War.
- Kevin McLaws: an American professional golfer and 3-time U.S. Amateur champion.
- Anna McLaws: a Scottish actress who has worked in film, television, and theater.
- Wil McLaws: an American basketball player.
- Douglas McLaws: an American cartoonist who has worked in print, television and animation.
- Arthur McLaws: a former Canadian political leader and Senator.
- Nancy Sheila McLaw: an English documentary filmmaker.