Surname MacLaws - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacLaws: What does the surname MacLaws mean?
The surname MacLaws is of Scottish origin. It is a derivative of the name McLeod, which means 'son of Leod'. The prefix 'Mac' typically denotes 'son of' in Gaelic names. This surname is associated with the region of the Western Isles and the Highlands of Scotland, owing to the clan-based social structure historically present there. However, the exact meaning of the surname MacLaws is not explicitly known. Over the years, different families have adopted and altered surnames for various reasons, causing changes in spellings and derivatives. Consequently, while it can be traced back to a Gaelic origin and associated with a certain geographical and historical context, the specific meaning of 'Laws' within the name 'MacLaws' remains unclear. As with many surnames, it may have been linked to a specific family trait, occupation, or descriptor during its inception.
Order DNA origin analysisMacLaws: Where does the name MacLaws come from?
The last name MacLaws is of Scottish origin. Mac is a Gaelic term for "son of" and it suggests that the name is patronymic in nature, meaning it was originally based on the first name of the father or a prominent ancestor. Although specific records on the emergence of the MacLaws surname are sparse, it's likely associated with clans in Scotland.
Today, the name is not very common, but it can be found in certain regions. It may be more frequently seen in countries like Scotland and the United States, as well as anywhere else Scottish diaspora have settled. However, it's important to remember that name distributions have changed substantially over centuries due to patterns of migration, cultural assimilation, and other factors. Therefore, having the MacLaws surname does not necessarily imply Scottish ethnicity.
Variations of the surname MacLaws
The surname MacLaws is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Lughaidh, which means the son of Lughaidh. Lughaidh is a personal name equivalent to the Latin Lucius.
There are several variant spellings for the surname. Spelling variations can occur due to phonetic variations when the name was translated from Gaelic to English. Therefore, some of the variations include MacLew, MacLea, MacLay, MacLeay, MacCloy, and MacCloud.
The prefixes "Mac" and "Mc" are relatively common in Scottish and Irish surnames, and so both MacLaws and McLaws can be valid spellings. Similarly, dropping the prefix entirely is not unheard of, so Laws could also be a variation of the MacLaws surname. Surname variations could also remove or replace "Mac" with "O" resulting in O'Laws or Olaws, often found in Irish surnames.
In addition to this, spelling could also change due to Anglicization, where Gaelic names are changed to sound more English. During this process, the name might be simplified or altered heavily, leading to more distant variations.
Famous people with the name MacLaws
- Fiona MacLaws: Scottish actress, best known for her portrayal of Astrid in Starz's Outlander.
- Donald MacLaws: Canadian military veteran and decorated recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- Brian MacLaws: American actor, known for roles in the TV series Third Watch and Law & Order: SVU.
- Isaac MacLaws: Scottish-Australian footballer, who currently plays with the Australian National Team.
- Gary MacLaws: American dancer, choreographer, and teacher, specialized in modern dance, contemporary dance, and hip hop.
- Alastair MacLaws: Scottish politician, currently serving as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Glasgow Sutton constituency.
- Hilda MacLaws: Canadian visual artist and sculptor, renowned for her modern representational works.
- Emily MacLaws: British painter and sculptor, whose works have been exhibited in renowned galleries around the world.
- Cameron MacLaws: American producer and songwriter, best known as the producer of the Spotify hit single "A Thousand Miles".
- Jean MacLaws: French photographer, well-known for her black and white documentations of everyday life in the 1940s and 50s.