Lavery

For the racehorse, see Lavery (horse).

Lavery, also spelled Lowry, Lowrie, Lory, Lavoy and Lowery, is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Labhradha, meaning the "descendants of Labhradha".[1]

The Ó Labhradha descend from Labhradh, who was the father of Etru, chief of the Monagh, a people belonging to the Irish over-kingdom of Ulaid.[1] At the time of Etru's death in 1056, the sept was located in the area of Magh Rath (present-day Moira, County Down).[2] It is in this area as well as the adjoining part of County Antrim where the surname is still most common.[2] A strong concentration of them can also be found in the Montiaghs district of County Armagh, where many moved to during the Plantation of Ulster.[2]

Due to the number of Laverys in these areas they had to adopt monikers to distinguish between them, as such there were three distinct branches: the Baun-Laverys, from the Irish word bán, meaning "white"; the Roe-Laverys, from the Irish word rua, meaning "red"; and the Trin-Laverys, from the Irish word tréan, meaning "strong".[2] The Trin-Laverys often mistranslated their name into English as Armstrong.[3] An example of the adoption of Armstrong is Dr. John Armstrong who was born Trenlavery.[2]

Some of those who are Lowrys may descend from the Mac Labharaigh of Galloway, Scotland.[2] Many of the Lowrys and Lowries in Ulster descend likewise from Scotland, where their names are variants of Laurie, a diminutive of Lawrence, common in Dumfriesshire.[2] Notable amongst these Lowrys are the Earls of Belmore in County Fermanagh, who descend from the Lauries of Maxwelltown, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.[2]

Notable people

Laverys

Arts and entertainment

Politics

Sport

Other

Lowrys

Lowery

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Woulfe, Rev. Patrick (1923). "Ó Labhradha". Irish Names and Surnames. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bell, Robert (2003). The Book of Ulster Surnames. The Blackstaff Press. pp. 118–9. ISBN 978-0-85640-602-7.
  3. ^ a b Bell, Robert (2003). The Book of Ulster Surnames. The Blackstaff Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-85640-602-7.
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