Lavery, also spelled Lowry, Lowrie, Lory, Lavoy and Lowery, is an Irish surname derived from the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

''Ó Labhradha'', meaning the "descendants of Labhradha". 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 Ulaid (Old Irish, ) or Ulaidh (Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia, which is the Latin form of Ulaid, and in ...

. At the time of Etru's death in 1056, the

sept A sept is a division of a family, especially of a Scottish or Irish family. The term is used in both Scotland and Ireland, where it may be translated as ''sliocht'', meaning "progeny" or "seed", which may indicate the descendants of a person ( ...

was located in the area of ''Magh Rath'' (present-day

Moira, County Down Moira () is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is in the northwest of the county, near the borders with counties Antrim and Armagh. The M1 motorway and Belfast–Dublin railway line are nearby. The population was 4, ...

). It is in this area as well as the adjoining part of

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population o ...

where the surname is still most common. A strong concentration of them can also be found in the Montiaghs district of

County Armagh County Armagh (, named after its county town, Armagh) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the southern shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has ...

, where many moved to during the

Plantation of Ulster The Plantation of Ulster ( gle, Plandáil Uladh; Ulster-Scots: ''Plantin o Ulstèr'') was the organised colonisation ('' plantation'') of Ulstera province of Irelandby people from Great Britain during the reign of King James I. Most of the se ...

. 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". The Trin-Laverys often mistranslated their name into English as Armstrong. An example of the adoption of Armstrong is Dr. John Armstrong who was born Trenlavery. Some of those who are Lowrys may descend from the ''Mac Labharaigh'' of

Galloway Galloway ( ; sco, Gallowa; la, Gallovidia) is a region in southwestern Scotland comprising the counties of Scotland, historic counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. It is administered as part of the council areas of Scotland, counci ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...

. 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 Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries or Shire of Dumfries (''Siorrachd Dhùn Phris'' in Gaelic) is a historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the historic county. ...

. Notable amongst these Lowrys are the Earls of Belmore in

County Fermanagh County Fermanagh ( ; ) is one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. The county covers an area of 1,691 km2 (653 sq mi) and has a population of 61,805 a ...

, who descend from the Lauries of

Maxwelltown Maxwelltown ( gd, Ceann Drochaid, IPA: �kʰʲaun̴̪ˈt̪ɾɔxətʲ was formerly a burgh of barony and police burgh and by the time of the burgh's abolition in 1929 it was the most populous burgh in the county of Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland ...

Kirkcudbrightshire Kirkcudbrightshire ( ), or the County of Kirkcudbright or the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright is one of the historic counties of Scotland, covering an area in the south-west of the country. Until 1975, Kirkcudbrightshire was an administrative coun ...

, Scotland.

Notable people

Laverys

Arts and entertainment

Bryony Lavery Bryony Lavery (born 1947) is a British dramatist, known for her successful and award-winning 1998 play ''Frozen''. In addition to her work in theatre, she has also written for television and radio. She has written books including the biography ...

(born 1947), British dramatist *

Emmet Lavery Emmet Godfrey Lavery (November 8, 1902 – January 1, 1986) was an American playwright and screenwriter. Born in Poughkeepsie, Lavery trained as a lawyer, before devoting his career to the theatre and to film. He wrote the English libretto for ...

(1902–1986), American playwright and screenwriter *

Emmet G. Lavery, Jr. Emmet Godfrey Lavery Jr. (August 10, 1927 – February 16, 2014) was an American television and film producer, attorney, and the son of the librettist, playwright, and screenwriter Emmet Lavery. Early years and law career Born in Poughkeepsie, Ne ...

(1927–2014), American TV and film producer * Fred Lavery (born 1955), Canadian singer–songwriter and music producer * Sir

John Lavery Sir John Lavery (20 March 1856 – 10 January 1941) was a Northern Irish painter best known for his portraits and wartime depictions. Life and career John Lavery was born in inner North Belfast, baptised at St Patrick's Church, Belfast a ...

(1856–1941), Irish painter *

Hazel Lavery Hazel Lavery, Lady Lavery (née Martyn; 1880–1935) was a painter and the second wife of portrait artist Sir John Lavery. Her likeness appeared on banknotes of Ireland for much of the 20th century.Sinead McCoole, ''Hazel: A Life of Lady 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) Sean Lavery (August 16, 1956 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – February 26, 2018 in Palm Springs, California) was a former principal dancer, balletmaster, and assistant to the balletmaster in chief at New York City Ballet. He was a répétiteur f ...

(1956–2018), American ballet dancer and ballet master

Politics

Cecil Lavery Cecil Patrick Linton Lavery (6 October 1894 – 17 December 1967) was an Irish lawyer, judge and politician who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1950 to 1966 and Attorney General of Ireland from 1948 to 1950. He served as a Teachta D� ...

(1894–1967), Irish politician and judge *

Frederick Lavery Frederick Richard Hugh Lavery (13 February 1898 – 12 January 1971) was an Australian trade unionist and politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1952 to 1971. Lavery was born in Coolgardi ...

(1898–1971), Australian trade unionist and politician *

Ian Lavery Ian Lavery (born 6 January 1963) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wansbeck since 2010. He served as the Chair of the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn from 2017 to 2020 and was President ...

(born 1963), British trade unionist and politician

Sport

* Patrick Lavery (1884–1915), English footballer *

Philip Lavery Philip Lavery (born 17 August 1990, in Dublin) is an Irish racing cyclist who most recently rode for the team. Lavery won the 2010 Tour of the North and won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, as part of the Northern Irish ...

(born 1990), Irish cyclist

Other

Dave Lavery Dave Lavery (born May 28, 1959) is an American scientist and roboticist who is the Program Executive for Solar System Exploration at NASA Headquarters. He also is a member of the ''FIRST'' Executive Advisory Board, and is well-known among par ...

(born 1959), American roboticist *

Ryan Lavery Ryan Lavery is a fictional character from the American daytime drama ''All My Children'', as portrayed by Cameron Mathison from 1998 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2011. He has a daughter with ex-wife Annie Lavery, a son with Kendall Hart, and is marr ...

, character in the American TV drama ''

All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2013, via Hulu, Hulu Plus, and ...

'' * William Edward Lavery (1930–2009), president of

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six reg ...

, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States *

William J. Lavery William J. Lavery (born March 26, 1938 in Bridgeport, Connecticut) is the Chief Court Administrator and former Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court. Lavery was appointed judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court on October 4, 1989; C ...

(born 1938), judge in Connecticut, United States

Lowrys

Calvin Lowry Calvin Sinclair Lowry (born February 13, 1983) is an American football coach and former player. Early years Lowry starred at wide receiver and defensive back at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Playing career He playe ...

, American football player * Dave Lowry, ice hockey player *

Flora E. Lowry Flora E. Lowry (, Woods; September 14, 1879 – April 21, 1933) was an American anthology, anthologist from Wisconsin, affiliated with the American Literary Association. In the early 1900s, she collected and catalogued the work of authors from th ...

(1879–1933), American anthologist *

Hiram Harrison Lowry Hiram Harrison Lowry (May 29, 1843 – January 13, 1924) was an educator, Methodist clergyman and college president in China. Early life Lowry was born on May 29, 1843 in Zanesville, Ohio, to Hiram and Margaret née Speare. He graduated f ...

, American Methodist missionary to China *

Heath W. Lowry Heath Ward Lowry (born 23 December 1942) is the Atatürk Professor of Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies emeritus at Princeton University and Bahçeşehir University. He is an author of books about the history of the Ottoman Empire and Modern ...

, historian * Henry Berry Lowrie, Confederate outlaw * Henry Dawson Lowry, English journalist * James Lowry, Jr., mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania *

Joseph Wilson Lowry Joseph Wilson Lowry (1803–1879) was an English engraver. He was the son of Wilson Lowry and his second wife Rebecca Delvalle and was born on 7 October 1803. His mother's sister, Abigail, was mother of the economist David Ricardo.David Ricardo, ...

, 18th century engraver *

Kyle Lowry Kyle Terrell Lowry (born March 25, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been a six-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016. Lowry w ...

, American basketball player * L. S. Lowry, British artist/painter *

Leonard Lowry Leonard George Lowry (1884 – 21 November 1947) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Biography Early life and career He was born in London in 1884. He entered the Civil Service but resigned so that he could travel abroad, settli ...

(1884–1947), New Zealand politician *

Lois Lowry Lois Ann Lowry (; née Hammersberg; March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of several books for children and young adults, including '' The Giver Quartet,'' ''Number the Stars'', and '' Rabble Starkey.'' She is known for writing ...

, author *

Malcolm Lowry Clarence Malcolm Lowry (; 28 July 1909 – 26 June 1957) was an English poet and novelist who is best known for his 1947 novel '' Under the Volcano'', which was voted No. 11 in the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list.

, author and poet *

Mark Lowry Mark Alan Lowry (born June 24, 1958) is an American singer, comedian, minister and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing the song "Mary, Did You Know?" and being a member of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988 to 2001, and 2009 to 2013, alo ...

, comedian *

Martin Lowry Thomas Martin Lowry (; 26 October 1874 – 2 November 1936) was an English physical chemist who developed the Brønsted–Lowry acid–base theory simultaneously with and independently of Johannes Nicolaus Brønsted and was a founder-member ...

, chemist *

Michael Lowry Michael Lowry (born 13 March 1953) is an Irish Independent politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) since 1987, currently for the Tipperary constituency. He previously served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications fro ...

, Irish politician * Noah Lowry, baseball pitcher *

Oliver Lowry Oliver Howe Lowry (July 18, 1910 – June 29, 1996) was an American biochemist. He devised the Lowry protein assay, the subject of the most-cited scientific paper in history. Biography Lowry was the youngest of a family of five children. His f ...

, a biochemist * Ray Lowry, cartoonist, musician *

Rich Lowry Richard Lowry (; born August 22, 1968) is an American writer who is the former editor and now editor-in-chief of ''National Review'', an American conservative news and opinion magazine. Lowry became editor of ''National Review'' in 1997 when selec ...

, editor and columnist *

Robert Lowry (governor) Robert Lowry (March 10, 1829January 19, 1910) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 32nd governor of Mississippi from 1882 to 1890. Before entering politics, he was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded ...

(1831–1910), American politician, governor of Mississippi *

Robert Lowry (hymn writer) Robert Lowry (March 12, 1826 – 25 November 1899) was an American preacher who became a popular writer of gospel music in the mid- to late-19th century. His best-known hymns include " Shall We Gather at the River", "Christ Arose!", " How Can I K ...

(1826–1899), American professor of literature, Baptist minister and composer of gospel hymns *

Robert Lowry (Indiana) Robert Lowry (April 2, 1824 – January 27, 1904) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana. Born in Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland, Lowry immigrated to the United States and settled in Rochester, New York. He was educated in private schools an ...

(1824–1904), American politician, U.S. Representative from Indiana * Robert Lowry (writer) (1919–1994), American novelist, short story writer and independent press publisher *

Robert Lowry, Baron Lowry Robert Lynd Erskine Lowry, Baron Lowry, PC, PC (NI) (30 January 1919 – 15 January 1999), was a Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. Knighted in 1971, he was created a life peer as Baron Lowry, of Crossg ...

(1919–1999), Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary *

Robert Lowry (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir Robert Swinburne Lowry (4 March 1854 – 29 May 1920) was a Royal Navy officer who became Admiral Commanding on the Coast of Scotland. Early life Lowry was the eldest son of Emily Rohesia (née Ward) and Lieutenant General Rob ...

(1854–1920), British admiral *

Robert William Lowry Robert William Lowry (17 November 1912 – 7 December 1963) was a New Zealand printer, publisher, typographer and teacher. Biography Lowry was born in Paeroa, New Zealand, on 17 November 1912. He was the eldest child of Janet (Jessie) Cra ...

, printer * Shane Lowry (footballer), Australian/Irish footballer *

Shane Lowry (golfer) Shane Lowry (born 2 April 1987) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. His notable achievements include winning the 2019 Open Championship, the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009, and the 2015 WGC-Bridg ...

, Irish golfer * Sylvanus Lowry, American politician *

Thomas Lowry Thomas Lowry (February 27, 1843 – February 4, 1909) was an American lawyer, real-estate magnate, and businessman who oversaw much of the early growth of the streetcar lines in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding co ...

, businessman * Tommy Lowry, English footballer

Lowery

Bill Lowery (politician) William David Lowery (born May 2, 1947) is an American politician and lobbyist from California. A Republican, he served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1993. Prior to Election Bill Lowery was born May 2, 1947, in Sa ...

(born 1947), U.S. Republican politician from California *

Bill Lowery (record producer) Bill Lowery (October 21, 1924 – June 8, 2004) was an American music entrepreneur. Early successes Lowery was born in Leesville, Louisiana. He studied radio dramatics at Taft Junior College and went on to a number of radio-announcing jobs. At a ...

(1924–2004), American music entrepreneur *

Clint Lowery Clint Lowery (born December 15, 1971) is an American musician, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Sevendust. He has also played in Dark New Day and Still Rain, and served as the tourin ...

(born 1971), guitarist of the rock band

Sevendust Sevendust is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and rhythm guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and lead guitarist Clint Lo ...

Corey Lowery Corey French Lowery is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and engineer. He is the guitarist and backing vocalist for South African rock band Seether, and a former member of Saint Asonia, Stuck Mojo, Stereomud, Eye Empire, and D ...

(born 1973), bass guitarist of Eye Empire, Saint Asonia, and previously

Dark New Day Dark New Day was an American hard rock supergroup formed in 2004 featuring Brett Hestla of Virgos Merlot, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Troy McLawhorn of DoubleDrive, Corey Lowery of Stereomud and Stuck Mojo, and Will Hunt of Skrape. Thei ...

* David Lowery * Evelyn G. Lowery * Fred L. Lowery (born 1943),

Southern Baptist The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. The wo ...

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the t ...

man and author * George H. Lowery Jr. (1913-1978), American ornithologist *

Finn Lowery Finn Henry Mrkusic Lowery (1 October 1990 – 24 March 2019) was a New Zealand lawyer, Rhodes Scholar, and water polo player who was a member of the New Zealand men's national water polo team at the Water polo at the 2013 World Aquatics Champio ...

(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 Joan Lowery Nixon (February 3, 1927 – June 28, 2003) was an American journalist and author, specializing in historical fiction and mysteries for children and young adults. Biography Joan Lowery was born on February 3, 1927, in Los Angeles, ...

(1927-2003), American journalist and author * John Lowery (born 1971), American guitarist with

Marilyn Manson Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He came to prominence as the lead singer of the band which shares his name, of which he remains the only constant member since it ...

and

Rob Zombie Rob Zombie (born Robert Bartleh Cummings; January 12, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and voice actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live shows have be ...

Joseph Lowery Joseph Echols Lowery (October 6, 1921 – March 27, 2020) was an American minister in the United Methodist Church and leader in the civil rights movement. He founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. an ...

(1921-2020), American minister and civil rights leader *Lee L. Lowery, Jr. (1938), Texas A&M University Engineering Professor (1967-2023) * Lillian M. Lowery, superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education *

Mark Lowery Mark Dale Lowery (born March 28, 1957) is an American politician. He serves as a Republican member for the 39th district of the Arkansas House of Representatives. Lowery has a Master's degree from the University of Arkansas. In 2013, Lowery was ...

(born 1957), member of the

Arkansas House of Representatives The Arkansas State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the s ...

Robert Lowery (actor) Robert Lowery (born Robert Lowery Hanks, October 17, 1913 – December 26, 1971) was an American motion picture, television, and stage actor who appeared in more than 70 films. Early life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Lowery grew up on Wayne ...

(1913-1971), American actor * Robert O. Lowery, the first

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

New York City Fire Commissioner The New York City Fire Commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York. There have been 34 commissioners excluding Acting Fire Commissioners, and 38 commissione ...

Savannah Lowery This is a list of New York City Ballet dancers. Principal dancers Soloists This is a list of New York City Ballet soloists. Corps de ballet The following is a list of the current members of the corps de ballet. * Victor Abreu * Devin A ...

, New York City Ballet soloist *

Terrell Lowery Quenton Terrell Lowery (born October 25, 1970) is an American former baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and San Francisco Giants. High school Lowery attended Oakland Technical High School, graduating with a 25-points ...

(born 1970), American professional baseball player and college basketball player * Tom Lowery (born 1997), English footballer *

Tony Lowery Anthony William Lowery (born 6 July 1961) is an English retired footballer who spent most of his professional career as a midfielder at Mansfield Town. Lowery, a native of Wallsend, Northumberland, began his professional career in March 1981, ...

(born 1961), English footballer *

(born 1969), American football player *

Vaughn Lowery Vaughn may refer to: Places in the United States *Vaughn, California, former name of Bodfish, California * Vaughn, Montana *Vaughn, New Mexico *Vaughn, Oregon *Vaughn, Pennsylvania *Vaughn, Virginia *Vaughn, Washington Name * Vaughn (surname), ...

, actor and model

References

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