Surname MacLaverty - Meaning and Origin

MacLaverty: What does the surname MacLaverty mean?

The surname MacLaverty is a lowland Scots name originating from the Clan Lamont, an ancient Scottish Highland Clan, named after their ancestor, La muhn. MacLaverty translates to “son of La um” and is likely derived from the Gaelic words “lair” (spear) and “muadhn” (servant).

The Clan Lamont was an independent clan but also closely associated with Clan Campbell and often provided their allies in battle. Clan members were fiercely proud and loyal to their kin and clan name and had a strong presence in the Scottish isles and mainland.

Today, the Clan remains alive primarily in the form of the MacLaverty Clan, a group dedicated to preserving the integrity of the MacLaverty name. In addition, many Scots around the world still bear the MacLaverty or Lamont surname and proudly embrace their unique Scottish heritage.

With a strong legacy, MacLaverty is a name with a long and storied history. It is associated with loyalty, hard work, and strength, values that many MacLavertys carry to this day.

MacLaverty: Where does the name MacLaverty come from?

The surname MacLaverty is derived from the Gaelic term "Mac Labhradha," which translates to "son of Labhradha." The name is found predominantly in Ulster in Northern Ireland, particularly the counties of Fermanagh, Antrim and Down. It is also found in Scotland, particularly around Carrick in Ayrshire and North Ayrshire, as well as in the Hebrides and the Borders.

Given its origins, it is not surprising that the surname remains very much in evidence in modern-day Ulster, with clusters of families with the surname living in Belfast, Londonderry, and throughout the region. It is likely that there is also some presence in the Scottish mainland, as well as in those traditional Scots-Irish settlements of North America.

In the United States, MacLaverty clan members are likely to be found in large numbers in the eastern seaboard states, particularly those that have strong historical connections with the Scots-Irish settlers. People with the surname can therefore be found living across the length and breadth of the United States from New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, on the east coast, to California, Colorado and Oregon, in the west.

MacLaverty is also found in other parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand. As many of these countries were also popular destinations for mouths of Scots-Irish settlers in the past, it is likely that many people with MacLaverty attached to their surname also populate these regions today.

Variations of the surname MacLaverty

The surname MacLaverty is a variant of the name Mac-an-Leirigh. The surname is also spelled in various forms such as Mac Lastowry, McLaverty, MacLawverty, McLawarity, McLawarty, and MacLarty. MacLaverty is an Irish surname, derived from the Irish Gaelic ‘Mac an Leirigh’, meaning ‘son of Leary’. It is commonly found in Ulster, and therefore likely derived from the same Irish ancestor.

Alternative spellings of the surname MacLaverty include MacLawtery, McLaworrett, and MacLawart. It has been suggested that the surname MacLaverty is of Scottish descent, however this is largely unsubstantiated, and the surname is more likely descended from Irish origins.

Variants of the MacLaverty surname include the following surnames: mac a’Lhardy, laird, leart, and MacLothlaibh. All of these surnames have a Scottish and Irish origin, and date back to medieval times. The name MacLaverty, however, is more likely derived from a branch of the Irish Clan O’Leirigh, and originally assigned to members of the O’Leirigh clan in Northern Ireland.

The surname MacLaverty is likely to have been originally used as a patronymic name, meaning that sons of Leary would have taken the name MacLaverty. Today, the surname MacLaverty is found most predominantly in Scotland and Ireland.

Famous people with the name MacLaverty

• Bernard MacLaverty: renowned novelist and short story writer from Northern Ireland.
• Paul MacLaverty: Irish broadcaster from Dublin who presented a variety of music shows on RTÉ Radio 1.
• Annie MacLaverty: influential Scottish novelist and short story writer
• William MacLaverty: Irish actor who has appeared in many film and tv roles such as Game of Thrones, On the Edge and The Clinic.
• Katie MacLaverty: Irish photographer and artist with works featured in galleries across Ireland.
• Seán MacLaverty: noted Celtic music researcher and lecturer from Cork.
• Michael MacLaverty: award-winning playwright and screenwriter from Belfast.
• Jennifer MacLaverty: award-winning costume designer from London, best known for the films Pride and Prejudice and Cinderella.
• Andrew MacLaverty: British actor who has appeared in a variety of productions, including War Horse, The Crown and The Aftermath.
• Lily MacLaverty: award-winning poet who has been published in various literary magazines.

Other surnames

MacLave