Lawlor Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Lawlor last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Lawlor last name
Meaning of the Lawlor last name: descendant of Leathlobhar ("half sick"). Lawlor is an anglicized form of Ó Leathlobhair, from a personal name usually read as "half sick" or "half leper". The O'Lalors were one of the Seven Septs of Laois, alongside the O'Mores, and held land around Dysart near the Rock of Dunamase. Many were transplanted to Kerry in the early 17th century. The spellings Lalor and Lawlor are both common today, and Lawler is frequent in America. The Rock of Dunamase, a great fortified outcrop in Laois, was the centre of the region the septs fought to hold against English settlers after the plantation of Laois and Offaly in the 1550s. Under the Crosbie agreement of 1607, the leading families of the Seven Septs were moved to Tarbert in north Kerry, and Lawlor families are still found in Kerry and Limerick. Many others remained in Laois, Kildare and Dublin. Irish emigration carried the name to the United States, Canada and Australia.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Lawlor name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Lawlor name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Lawlor pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Lawlor coat of arms for you.
Lawlor name FAQ
What does the Lawlor name mean?
Descendant of Leathlobhar ("half sick"). Common variants include Lalor, Lawler, O'Lalor.
Where does the Lawlor surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Lawlor coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Lawlor crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Lawlor coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).