Surname MacLaughlan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacLaughlan: What does the surname MacLaughlan mean?
MacLaughlan is a last name of Scottish origin. The prefix 'Mac' in Scottish and Irish surnames denotes 'son of'. The second part of the name, 'Laughlan', likely refers to the personal name "Lochlainn", which has roots in Norse and means 'Viking' or 'from the land of the fjords'. So the name can be interpreted to mean 'son of Laughlan' or 'son of the Viking'. Over time, the spelling of the name has evolved and you can now find many variations including McLachlan, McLaughlin, and MacLachlan among others. The MacLachlans were a powerful family in the Middle Ages, holding lands in the Scottish Highlands. The name is popular in regions deeply influenced by Celtic and Norse cultures, such as Scotland and Ireland. Despite its ancient origins, it remains in common use as a surname today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacLaughlan: Where does the name MacLaughlan come from?
The surname MacLaughlan is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Lachlainn", which means "son of Lachlann". This name has strong roots in the ancient region of Dunbartonshire.
Lachlann is a reference to the land of the fjords, known as Norway. This implies that the lineage of those with the MacLaughlan surname may be traced to the Vikings who had settled in Scotland's western coast and the Hebrides islands as early as the 8th and 9th centuries.
The prefix "Mac" denotes "son of", thereby signifying this surname's patriarchal lineage. The name Lachlan (spelled as Lochlann in Irish Gaelic) was a common Norse first name.
Today, the surname MacLaughlan, along with its various other spellings such as McLaughlin, MacLachlan, and McLaughlan, can be found widely dispersed all over the world, mainly due to the Scottish Diaspora. It is relatively common in countries such as Scotland, Ireland (Northern Ireland specifically), Australia, Canada, England, and the United States.
Variations of the surname MacLaughlan
The surname MacLaughlan has numerous variations and spellings which have formed over time due to factors like regional dialects, translation from Gaelic and different family lineages. Here are some of the most common forms:
Spelling Variations: Maclachlan, Maclaughlan, MacGillolane, MacGilleglan, MacLauchlan (also seen as McLachlan), MacLauchland, MacLachlainn, MacLachlin, MacLaughlin, and MacLachlan.
The "Mac" prefix in the name signifies "son of", so sometimes the name might be seen without it, e.g., Laughlin. The "Mc" spelling (like McLachlan) is a variant of "Mac," both meaning the same.
Other derivated spellings include McLachlane, McLacklan, MacLochlainn, MacLochlin, and MacLoughlin. The form McLaughlin is very common, especially in Northern Ireland. Less common spellings include Maklaklan and Macklaklan.
Surnames of the same origin often include Clark, O'Kelaney, Langan, O'Langan, Glassan and Lennox.
In Scotland, McLachlan is a significant surname in the Argyll region due to the historical presence of the Clan McLachlan. They originated from the Lachlan River which flows into Loch Fyne, hence giving the name which translates to "son of the one from the Lachlan River".
In Ireland, the equivalents often trace back to the Gaelic surname MacLochlainn, primarily in Donegal and Clare. Modern variations of the original Gaelic name can also include Clooneen and Cloonan.
Notably, the diverse range of spellings for the name MacLaughlan emphasizes the rich regional and linguistic variations in Gaelic lands.
Famous people with the name MacLaughlan
- Ryan MacLaughlan: a professional actor, best known for his roles in films such as Revolutionary Road (2008), Date Night (2010), and the Divergent film series.
- Rory MacLaughlan: professional Canadian ice hockey player who has played for the Calgary Flames and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Paul MacLaughlan: a Canadian-American actor, singer, and songwriter who achieved fame as a member of the folk music group, The Chieftains.
- Bethany MacLaughlan: a Canadian mixed martial artist, competing out of Maximum Training Centre in British Columbia.
- Kenneth MacLaughlan: a British-born Canadian stuntman and actor known for his appearances in films such as X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).
- Samuel MacLaughlan: Canadian Anglican bishop who served as the 9th Bishop of Caledonia from 1927 to 1946.
- William MacLaughlan: a Scottish-born Canadian politician and barrister who served as the mayor of Saskatoon from 1896 to 1898.
- Wesley MacLaughlan: a Canadian-born American cinema actor, known for roles in films such as Bad Girls (1994), Montana (1998), and Red Planet (2000).
- Caroline MacLaughlan: a Canadian-American author, journalist, and teacher, known for her works such When the Children Left Home (2015).
- Sinead MacLaughlan: an Irish-born Canadian artist and backstage costume specialist, who has worked on shows like Supernatural (2005-ongoing).