McLaurin
A Scottish surname tied to the Gaelic form of MacLaren, traditionally linked to the district of Lorn in Argyll.
The #4,414 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 38,377 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is usually treated as a Scottish form of MacLaren, itself commonly explained as meaning “son of Laurence” or as a clan name associated with Gaelic Lorn/Laurin. The historical sources here connect it with Gaelic forms pronounced roughly like “Laurin” and with the district of Lorn in Argyllshire. Earlier writers also tied it to a Highland clan tradition, so the surname may reflect both a place-based association and later surname spelling development.
History
In Scotland, the name appears as a clan surname and is often found under spellings such as MacLaren, MacLaurin, and McLaurin. The surname became better known beyond the Highlands through notable bearers such as Colin Maclaurin, the 18th-century mathematician. In modern usage, McLaurin is especially familiar in Scottish-descended families in North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The family tradition in one source connects the clan badge to the laurel, a symbol that helped keep the MacLaurin/MacLaren name visually memorable.
From the historical record
“See Laughlin. McLAURIN. The son of Ldbhruinn, or Lawrence. McLEAN. MacGillean. From a Highland chieftain of the name of Gillean, who was the progenitor of this family. This Gillean was a celebrated warrior, and was called Gillean- ni-Tuoidh, from his ordinary weapon, a battle-ax, which in the Gaelic is Tuoidh…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names