Lavery
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
[edit]Laverys
[edit]Arts and entertainment
[edit]- Bryony Lavery (born 1947), British dramatist
- Emmet Lavery (1902–1986), American playwright and screenwriter
- Emmet G. Lavery, Jr. (1927–2014), American TV and film producer
- Fred Lavery (born 1955), Canadian singer–songwriter and music producer
- Sir John Lavery (1856–1941), Irish painter
- Hazel Lavery (1880–1935), American–Irish painter, artist's model on Irish banknotes
- Father Sean Lavery (1931–1999), Irish priest and music director
- Sean Lavery (dancer) (1956–2018), American ballet dancer and ballet master
Politics
[edit]- Cecil Lavery (1894–1967), Irish politician and judge
- Frederick Lavery (1898–1971), Australian trade unionist and politician
- Ian Lavery (born 1963), British trade unionist and politician
Sport
[edit]- James Lavery (1929–2024), Canadian sprinter
- Patrick Lavery (1884–1915), English footballer
- Philip Lavery (born 1990), Irish cyclist
Other
[edit]- Dave Lavery (born 1959), American roboticist
- Duke Lavery, character in the daytime soap opera, General Hospital
- Ryan Lavery, character in the daytime soap soap All My Children
- William Edward Lavery (1930–2009), president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, US
- William J. Lavery (1938–2024), American jurist from Connecticut
Lowrys
[edit]- Calvin Lowry, American football player
- Dave Lowry, ice hockey player
- Dinny Lowry (1934–2025), Irish soccer player
- Flora E. Lowry (1879–1933), American anthologist
- Heath W. Lowry, historian
- Henry Berry Lowrie, Confederate outlaw
- Henry Dawson Lowry, English journalist
- Hiram Harrison Lowry, American missionary to China
- James Lowry, Jr., American politician from Pennsylvania
- Joseph Wilson Lowry, 18th century engraver
- Kyle Lowry, American basketball player
- L. S. Lowry, British artist/painter
- Leonard Lowry (1884–1947), New Zealand politician
- Lois Lowry, author
- Malcolm Lowry, author and poet
- Mark Lowry, comedian
- Martin Lowry, chemist
- Michael Lowry (politician), Irish politician
- Noah Lowry, baseball pitcher
- Oliver H. Lowry (1910–1996), American biochemist
- Ray Lowry, cartoonist, musician
- Rich Lowry, editor and columnist
- Robert Lowry (governor) (1831–1910), American politician from Mississippi
- Robert Lowry (hymn writer) (1826–1899), American professor of literature, Baptist minister and composer of gospel hymns
- Robert Lowry (Indiana) (1824–1904), American politician from Indiana
- Robert Lowry (writer) (1919–1994), American novelist, short story writer and publisher
- Robert Lowry, Baron Lowry (1919–1999), Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
- Robert Lowry (Royal Navy officer) (1854–1920), British admiral
- Robert William Lowry (printer), printer
- Shane Lowry (footballer), Australian/Irish footballer
- Shane Lowry (golfer), Irish golfer
- Sylvanus Lowry, American politician
- Thomas Lowry, businessman
- Tommy Lowry, English footballer
Lowery
[edit]- Bill Lowery (politician) (born 1947), American politician from California
- Bill Lowery (record producer) (1924–2004), American music entrepreneur
- Clint Lowery (born 1971), guitarist of the rock band Sevendust
- Corey Lowery (born 1973), bass guitarist of Eye Empire, Saint Asonia, and Dark New Day
- Damon Lowery (born 1967), American basketball player
- David Lowery
- Evelyn G. Lowery (1925–2013), American civil rights activist and leader
- George H. Lowery Jr. (1913-1978), American ornithologist
- Finn Lowery (1990–2019), New Zealand water polo player
- Hugh Lowery (1892–1972), American football player
- Ian Lowery (1956–2001), English musician
- James Lowery, several people of that name
- Joan Lowery Nixon (1927-2003), American journalist and author
- John Lowery (born 1971), American guitarist with Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie
- Joseph Lowery (1921-2020), American minister and civil rights leader
- Lillian M. Lowery, superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education
- Mark Lowery (1957–2023), American politician from Arkansas
- Reuben Lowery (born 2002), American football player
- Robert Lowery (actor) (1913-1971), American actor
- Robert O. Lowery, New York City fire commissioner
- Savannah Lowery, American ballet dancer
- Terrell Lowery (born 1970), American baseball and basketball player
- Tom Lowery (born 1997), English footballer
- Tony Lowery (born 1961), English footballer
- Tony Lowery (born 1969), American football player
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Woulfe, Rev. Patrick (1923). "Ó Labhradha". Irish Names and Surnames. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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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