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Laurent History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Laurent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Scotland
Ireland

The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Laurent family. The root of their name is 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 Laurent family

The surname Laurent 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 Laurent family

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

Laurent Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Laurent has been spelled MacLaren, MacLaron, MacLaurin, MacLarty, MacClarence, MacPhater, MacFeeter and many more.

Early Notables of the Laurent family

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

Laurent Ranking

In the United States, the name Laurent is the 5,739^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Laurent is ranked the 12^nd most popular surname with an estimated 75,307 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Laurent family to Ireland

Some of the Laurent 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.

Laurent migration to the United States +

Numerous Scottish settlers settled along the east coast of the colonies that would become the United States and Canada. Others traveled to the open country of the west. At the time of the American War of Independence, some remained in the United States, while those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The highland games and Clan societies that sprang up across North America in the 20th century have helped many Scots to recover parts of their lost traditions. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Laurents to arrive in North America:

Laurent Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sir Francis Laurent, aged 40, settled in Grenada in 1774
Joseph Laurent, who settled in New York in 1775
François Laurent, who settled in Philadelphia in 1796

Laurent Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Augustine Laurent, who settled in Philadelphia in 1811
Catherine Laurent, aged 60, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1820 3
M Laurent, aged 45, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1852 3
Simon Laurent, who arrived in Indiana in 1854 3
Augustus Laurent, who settled in Philadelphia in 1856
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Laurent migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Laurent Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Mr. Jean Laurent, (b. 1621), aged 22, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 6th April 1643 4
Louis Laurent, who landed in Montreal in 1653
Mr. Jean Laurent, French labourer travelling to Canada to work for François Peron, arriving on 11th April 1656 4
Mr. Pierre Laurent, French settler travelling to Canada to work for Antoine Grignon, Pierre Gaigneur, and Jacques Massé, arriving on 14th March 1657 4
Pierre Laurent, aged 24, who landed in Canada in 1657
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Laurent Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Pierre Laurent, son of Pierre and Marie-Anne, who married Catherine Tessier, daughter of Pierre and Catherine, in Montreal, Quebec on 7th September 1700 5
Jean-Baptiste Laurent, son of Jean and Madeleine, who married Antoinete Bouré, daughter of Gilles and Marie, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 9th February 1711 5
François Laurent, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marie-Madeleine Rochereau, daughter of Vivien and Marie, in Champlain, Quebec on 7th January 1717 5
Jacques-Julien Laurent, son of Gilles and Anne, who married Catherine Patry, daughter of Jean and Catherine, in Saint-François-du-Lac, Quebec on 9th April 1720 5
Jean Laurent, son of Philippe and Marguerite, who married Marie-Anne Éthier, daughter of François and Francoise, in Montreal, Quebec on 23rd September 1726 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Laurent (post 1700) +

Lawrence Bell Laurent, American Journalist, Washington, DC
John Louis Laurent, American Artist, Maine
Romeo St. Laurent, American politician, Mayor of Somersworth, New Hampshire, 1953 6
Randall St. Laurent (b. 1951), American Republican politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 2000; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 2004 6
Benjamin St. Laurent, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1928 6
Alfred St. Laurent, American Republican politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State Senate 18th District, 1938 6
Joseph S. Laurent, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1928 7
Jean Laurent (1944-2023), French banker and businessman
François Guillaume Barthélémy Laurent, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
Henri Laurent, French Olympian who won a bronze for fencing at the 1900 games
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Laurent 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/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 30) François Laurent. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html