McLaurin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

On the western coast of Scotland and on the Hebrides islands the McLaurin family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Laurence. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Labhruinn, which means son of Labhran or son of Laurence. The Clan is believed to be descended from Lorn, son of Erc, who landed in Argyll in 503 AD. Although the lineage before the 12th century is difficult to prove, it has been established that the clan held vast territories called the Braes of Balquhidder. They were recorded as being 'all grand, strong men' and, when the Old Kirk at Balquhidder was being repaired, clan members supervised the exhumation of some of the bodies of ancient members of the clan from the graveyard that was a traditional the burial place of the theirs. They found bones measuring 23 and a half inches long, which makes them big men even by today's standards.

Early Origins of the McLaurin family

The surname McLaurin was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where in the valley of Loch Voil between the head of Loch Lomond and Loch Earn they were so powerful that it was once said that no one could take his place in church until the MacLaren Clan were properly seated.

They were kinsmen of the Celtic Earls of Strathearn and their branches were at Balquidder, Strathearn, Auchleskine, Stank, Druach and Lochearnside. They engaged neighboring Clans in lively feuds but always remained faithful in their allegiance to the Royal House of Stewart.

They were hereditary Celtic Abbots of Achtow and derive their name from Abbot Lawrence. For almost a thousand years the gathering place of the Clan has been Creag an Tuirc, the 'Boars Rock' in Achtow, in Balquhidder. This has also been adopted as their slogan.

Early History of the McLaurin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLaurin research. Another 312 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1344, 1698, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McLaurin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLaurin Spelling Variations

In various documents McLaurin has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. MacLaren, MacLaron, MacLaurin, MacLarty, MacClarence, MacPhater, MacFeeter and many more.

Early Notables of the McLaurin family

More information is included under the topic Early McLaurin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLaurin Ranking

In the United States, the name McLaurin is the 3,336^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1

Migration of the McLaurin family to Ireland

Some of the McLaurin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLaurin migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name McLaurin or a variant listed above:

McLaurin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert McLaurin, who arrived in Richmond, Va in 1750 2
John Lachlan McLaurin, who landed in North Carolina in 1790 2
Effie McLaurin, who landed in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1790 2
James McLaurin, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1798 2
Duncan McLaurin, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1798 2

McLaurin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Angus McLaurin, aged 33, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 2
Archibald McLaurin, who landed in Mississippi in 1837 2

Contemporary Notables of the name McLaurin (post 1700) +

Virginia McLaurin (1909-2022), American community volunteer and supercentenarian who gained national attention after a video of her dancing with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama went viral on February 18, 2016 during annual Black History Month
John Lowndes McLaurin (1860-1934), United States Representative and Senator from South Carolina (1897-1903)
Bette McLaurin (b. 1929), American singer, best known for her recordings, "I May Hate Myself In The Morning" (1952) and "Only A Rose" (1953)
Thomas B. McLaurin, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Bennettsville, South Carolina, 1907-15
Mary McLaurin, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Mississippi, 2012
John Lowndes McLaurin (1860-1934), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from South Carolina 6th District, 1892-97; U.S. Senator from South Carolina, 1897-1903
John C. McLaurin, American politician, Independent Candidate for Presidential Elector for Mississippi, 1956
Gene McLaurin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 2000
Duncan McLaurin, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Dillon, South Carolina, 1888-90
Anselm Joseph McLaurin (1848-1909), American Democratic Party politician, Served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; U.S. Senator from Mississippi, 1894-95, 1901-09; Died in office 1909; Governor of Mississippi, 1896-1900
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The McLaurin 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: Creag an tuirc
Motto Translation: The boar's rock.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)