Surname McLawrence - Meaning and Origin

McLawrence: What does the surname McLawrence mean?

The surname McLawrence is of Scottish origin and primarily found in Ireland, Scotland, and the Caribbean. Mc or Mac in the name means "son of," and is common in Scottish and Irish names. Lawrence, the second part, is derived from the Latin name “Laurentius,” which means "from Laurentum," a town in Italy. Laurentius later evolved into Lawrence in English. So the last name McLawrence could mean "son of Lawrence." It’s important to note that surnames can have various origins and meanings in different regions and cultures, therefore interpretations of the meaning can vary.

McLawrence: Where does the name McLawrence come from?

The last name McLawrence is of Scottish origin. The prefix "Mc" is the Irish spelling for "Mac," commonly used in a variety of Celtic surnames of Irish and Scottish origins. It translates to "son of" and is often attached to the father's name. The part "Lawrence" is derived from the Latin name Laurence, meaning "man from Laurentum" (an ancient Roman city). Therefore, McLawrence roughly means "son of Lawrence."

The Scottish Clan MacLaren can also be associated with the surname McLawrence. They hail from the highland region of Perthshire, Scotland.

Today, the surname McLawrence is dispersed globally due to historical events like emigration and can be found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, it is most common in Jamaica due to the transport of African slaves by Scottish plantation owners. It's worth noting that surnames can change dramatically over time and nations, and many variant spellings exist.

Variations of the surname McLawrence

The surname McLawrence is predominantly of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic 'Mac Labhrainn' meaning 'Son of Lawrence.' There are quite a few variants and spellings of this surname as it has evolved over the centuries. Here are some of the popular versions:

McLaurin, McLaurine, McLaran, McLarnon, McLaran, McLearn, McLearan, McLaron, MacLaren, MacLaurin, MacLauryn, MacLawrence.

In some cases, the 'Mc' could also interchange with 'Mac,' which also means 'son of' in Gaelic. Similarly, in some instances, the 'Mc' or 'Mac' can be dropped entirely, giving rise to additional variants such as Lawrence, Laurin, Lauryn, and Laren.

Some people might have also Anglicized or simplified their surname over time, particularly upon immigrating to non-Gaelic speaking countries. In those cases, it's not uncommon to see variants like Lawson derived from the root 'Lawrence.'

It's also important to note that variations could occur based on regional dialects and spelling practices. As surnames were often recorded as they sounded, phonetic variants like McLarnon or Larin could also be tied back to McLawrence.

Remember that tracing a surname's exact lineage can be complex due to these numerous variants, misspellings and changes for convenience or assimilation to a different culture.

Famous people with the name McLawrence

• William R. McLawrence: American actor best known for roles in films such as The Basketball Diaries (1995) and Warriors of Virtue (1997).
• Sascha McLawrence: British fashion designer known for creating the fashion label Sascha McLawrence.
• Rob McLawrence: Host of the popular Canadian football podcast 'Third Down Radio.'
• John McLawrence: All-time golfing great from the United Kingdom who was a three-time open champion in the early 1900s.
• Hannah McLawrence: British recording artist, best known for debut single 'Falling' and EP Heart Beats.
• Tyler McLawrence: Professional Canadian hockey player who currently plays for the St. John's Maple Leafs.
• Jack McLawrence: Iconic American country music singer and songwriter known for classic hits like ‘The Gambler’ and ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love.’
• Terence McLawrence: Beloved British actor most known for his role as James Fenton on the hit BBC series, EastEnders.
• Erik McLawrence: Award-winning American skateboarder and filmmaker.
• Geoff McLawrence: Award-winning Australian animator and video game designer, famous for his work on the game series Little Big Planet and Ratchet & Clank.

Other surnames

McLawren