Surname McLaws - Meaning and Origin
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McLaws: What does the surname McLaws mean?
The last name McLaws is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word "MacLughaich". The prefix "Mac" in Scottish and Irish culture typically means "son of" and "Lughaich" is known to have been a personal name. However, the exact meaning of 'Lughaich' is unclear. Over the years, the name has been anglicized and evolved into different forms, one of which is McLaws. Like most Scottish surnames, it is likely that it originally used to refer to a specific family or clan. As such, many people with the last name McLaws could possibly trace their ancestry back to that original family or clan in Scotland. As a surname, McLaws is relatively rare and found most frequently in the United States and Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLaws: Where does the name McLaws come from?
The surname McLaws originates from Scotland, specifically referring to the descendants of Law, an ancient Scottish chieftain. The prefix "Mc" derives from the Gaelic word "Mac," meaning "son of." Thus, McLaws translates to "son of Law."
The McLaws ride high wave periods and belong to a sept, or component, of the Greater Clan MacLaren, rooted in the old district of Balquhidder in central Scotland. Historical records like the Ragman Rolls (1296) document the McLaws’ presence in Scotland since ancient times.
In the modern era, the surname McLaws has primarily been found in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States, especially states with larger Scottish immigrant populations such as California, Texas, and North Carolina. Despite the diaspora, McLaws remains a less common surname globally, whether in its home country or in regions of immigration. Though the exact number of people bearing this surname varied across data sources, all agree that it is not frequently found.
Variations of the surname McLaws
The surname McLaws is of Scottish origin, belonging to the category of 'patronymic' surnames, which are derived from the personal name of the original bearer's father. Its origins can be traced to the Gaelic name MacLughaidh, which translates to 'son of Lugh', with Lugh being a popular personal name meaning 'brightness' or 'light'.
Variations of this surname can be found in different spellings, which often occurred due to a literal translation from Gaelic to English, resulting in diverse phonetic spellings by scribes and clergymen. Some commonly found variations include McLough, McLoughlin, McLaughlan, McLauchlin, McLachlan, McLochlainn, McLaughlin, and so on. The "Mc" or "Mac" prefix can also be interchangeable in these variants, both signifying 'son of' in Gaelic.
Surnames with the shared derivation of the 'son of Lugh' can also be considered to be of the same origin, but might have diverged significantly over time in spelling and appearance.
It is also worth noting that migration and emigration, especially during the times of the Highland clearances in Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries, have resulted in the appearance of these variants across the world, often modified to suit local linguistic systems.
Famous people with the name McLaws
- John B. McLaws: Confederate General in the American Civil War
- Gwen McLaws: famed environmental activist from the 1980s
- Jackie McLaws: Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1984 Summer Games
- Robert McLaws: American businessman from the early 20th century
- Peter McLaws: US Navy Lieutenant Commander from World War II
- Arthur McLaws: early 20th century U.S. Navy Commander
- Isaac McLaws: renowned U.S. Navy Admiral of the late 19th century
- Hunter McLaws: noted Confederate General from the American Civil War
- Jock McLaws: famed United States Army Major General from the 1870s
- Jim McLaws: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- John McLaws: influential US Supreme Court Justice from the late 19th century