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]
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]