Show ContentsLowrey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Lowrey family

The surname Lowrey was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. "Laurieston in the parish of Balmaghie, stewartry of Kirkcudbright takes its name from William Kennedy Laurie, Esq., proprietor of the lands on which it is built, near Lochinbren, a sheet of water abounding with trout. " [1]

There are two other places named Laurieston in Scotland: an ecclesiastical district, within the jurisdiction of the city of Glasgow; and in the parish of Falkirk, county of Stirlinge village. Of the former, we can find no notes about the origin; of the latter, it was derived from "the name of Laurencetoun, of which its present appellation is a contraction." [1]

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Lawrence.' In the Lowlands and on the Borders, popularly Lowrie or Laurie, whence the many North English and Scottish variations of this name. " [2]

"The name has been also explained, with still less probability; as from Scots lowrie, 'foxy'. The name of Gavin Lawrie, governor of New Jersey during the colonial period, is spelled in a letter quoted in The Haigs of Bemersyde as Lowry.' [3]

"Hence 'Lowrie-like,' having the crafty look of a fox. The full name Lawrence was also applied to the fox, proving that Lowry and Lawry are the true offspring of the name." [2]

Early History of the Lowrey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lowrey research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1640, 1653, 1669, 1671, 1677, 1683, 1686, 1687, 1755, 1770, 1771, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1779, 1820, 1827, 1836, 1839, 1861 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lowrey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lowrey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lawrie, Laurie, Larrie, Larry, Laurie, Laury, Lawry, Lowrie and many more.

Early Notables of the Lowrey family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Robert Laurie of Maxwelltown; Gawen Lawrie (died 1687), 2nd Deputy Governor of East New Jersey (1683-1686); Robert Laurie (died 1677), Church of Scotland prelate...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lowrey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lowrey Ranking

In the United States, the name Lowrey is the 6,478th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Lowrey family to Ireland

Some of the Lowrey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 118 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lowrey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lowrey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Eleanor and Emma Lowrey, who settled in Virginia in 1649
  • Elinor Lowrey, who landed in Virginia in 1649 [5]
  • Ema Lowrey, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 [5]
  • Elizabeth Lowrey, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 [5]
  • William Lowrey, who landed in Maryland in 1663 [5]
Lowrey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Michael Lowrey, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 [5]
  • Peter Lowrey, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 [5]
  • John Lowrey, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1766
  • Joseph Lowrey, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 [5]
  • Patrick Lowrey, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 [5]
Lowrey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis Lowrey, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1801 [5]
  • John Lowrey, who landed in America in 1805 [5]
  • Elnr Lowrey, who landed in America in 1805 [5]
  • James Lowrey, who arrived in South Carolina in 1806 [5]
  • Susan Lowrey, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Lowrey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lowrey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Lowrey U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 424 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA [6]
  • Mr. William Lowrey U.E. who arrived at Canada on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 250 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Lowrey (post 1700) +

  • Bill G. Lowrey (1862-1947), American politician, U.S. Representative from Mississippi
  • Corporal Dewitt Lowrey (1922-2015), American soldier with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II; one of the 140 Toccoa men of Easy Company, his life story was featured in the 2009 book We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from Band of Brothers
  • Harry Lee "Peanuts" Lowrey (1917-1986), American Major League Baseball outfielder
  • Bill Lowrey (b. 1963), American musical entertainer and banjoist
  • Mark Lowrey (b. 1980), Kansas City based jazz pianist
  • Gerry Lowrey (1906-1979), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey forward
  • Fred Lowrey (1902-1968), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey defenceman
  • Eddie Lowrey (b. 1891), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey centre
  • Chris Lowrey (b. 1986), New Zealand rugby union footballer
  • David Lowrey Seymour (1803-1867), American lawyer and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York


The Lowrey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Repullulat
Motto Translation: It buds afresh.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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