Surname MacLavin - Meaning and Origin

MacLavin: What does the surname MacLavin mean?

The last name MacLavin is a Gaelic surname of Scottish origin. It is derived from the French and means “son of Lavin”. The name Lavin is related to St. Lawrence and is derived from the Latin Laurentius, which means “crowned with laurels.” The progenitor of the family was thought to be a follower of MacDuff, the legendary leader of the people of Fife during the 11th or 12th century.

The clan is said to have originated on the Isle of Ulva off the north-west coast of Scotland, near Mull and Iona in the Inner Hebrides. The MacLavins originally lived on the Isles of Ulva and Mull in the late 14th century and soon spread south, settling in Argyll and away from the islands. In later generations, many MacLavins served as officers in the British army, and the clan has also been prominent in medicine, law and politics.

The surname has strong associations with the land and the sea, and it is believed that the early members of the clan were expert sailors. They used their knowledge of the waters to locate uninhabited islands, where they could oversee livestock and fish, so contributing to their wealth. It is also believed that MacLavins engaged in some form of military service, particularly during the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745.

Today, the MacLavin family are scattered around the world, with branches in North America, New Zealand, and Australia. The clan remains proud of their links to Scotland and their ancestry, and many still use the name to honor their heritage.

MacLavin: Where does the name MacLavin come from?

The surname MacLavin is most commonly found in counties in the north of Ireland such as Tipperary, Cavan, and Donegal. There is also a large MacLavin presence in Scotland and the Isle of Man. The name is believed to have originated from the Irish name Mac an Laibhnigh, which translates as "son of the bishop".

Today, MacLavins are spread across the globe but the majority of families with the surname can be found in Ireland. In 2011, the number of MacLavins recorded in Ireland was at 1135, with the majority of them living in Connacht. The Irish spelling of MacLavin is Mac Laibhín and this spelling is still used commonly in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The surname is also popular in Scotland and England and it is believed that most of the MacLavin families in Scotland are descended from the MacLavins of western Scotland, which were part of the ancient Earldom of Ross.

MacLavin is also a popular surname in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. In the United States, the number of people with the surname MacLavin is estimated to be around 3,000.

Regardless of where MacLavins are in the world, they are believed to be descended from an ancient branch of Irish royalty, making the surname both prestigious and distinctive.

Variations of the surname MacLavin

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacLavin are numerous. To begin with, the original Gaelic spelling of the name is MhicFloinn (pronounced ‘Meek Lav-in’). The different spellings may then be broken down into variations, some of which may have acquired an Anglicisation over time. Some of the variations include: MacFlavin, MacLavain, McLavine, MacLavan, McCLavaine, McLavane, McLaven, MacLaven, McClave, McClavin, McLavine, McLavin, MacLaving and McLavon. Most of these spellings can also be seen as surnames, such as: McLevin, McLavain, McLavine, Lavin, LaVin, Lavine and LaVine.

In addition to these, there have been other spellings derived due to interpersonal ease of pronunciation. These less used spellings are found in documents and records and may include, but not be limited to, McLavyn, McLavon, McLaven, Maclaverty, MacLovin, MacLovine, and MacLaven.

In terms of other surnames deriving from the same origins as MacLavin, the list is considerable. Most of the time, the surname enters the branch from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. This means that other names which can be found with similar origin or derivative roots are those often heard in Ireland such as Barret, Clemson, Cleary, Claiborne, Clarine, MacErlane, Garrett, Gibbons, Gibney, Griffin, Keane, Mooney, Tynan, Tierney, and Quinn. Thus, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacLavin are many and varied.

Famous people with the name MacLavin

• David MacLavin: Canadian actor and disc jockey
• Mairi MacLavin: Scottish actress
• Gillian MacLavin: American literary scholar and poet
• Meghan MacLavin: American model, entrepreneur, health coach, and influencer
• George MacLavin: American musician, songwriter, and voice actor
• Melanie MacLavin: Canadian writer and producer
• Sean MacLavin: Irish television presenter
• Ronan MacLavin: Irish politician
• Julie MacLavin: American right-wing political commentator
• Ruby MacLavin: Scottish sculptor

Other surnames

MacLaveMacLaverty