Lavery, also spelled Lowry, Lowrie, Lory, Lavoy and Lowery, is an Irish

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

derived from the

Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...

''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 (Old Irish, ) or (Irish language, Modern Irish, ) was a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic Provinces of Ireland, over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include , which ...

. 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 both in Scotland and in Ireland, where it may be translated as Irish , meaning "progeny" or "seed", and 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 parishes in Ireland, civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is in the northwest of the county, near the border with counties County Antrim, Antrim and County Armagh, Armagh. The M1 motorway (Northern I ...

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

County Antrim County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, County Antrim, Antrim, ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, located within the historic Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the c ...

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 ( ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It is located in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and adjoins the southern shore of Lough Neagh. It borders t ...

, where many moved to during the

Plantation of Ulster The Plantation of Ulster (; Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster Scots: ) was the organised Settler colonialism, colonisation (''Plantation (settlement or colony), plantation'') of Ulstera Provinces of Ireland, province of Irelandby people from Great ...

. 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 ( ; ; ) 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, council area of Dumfries and Gallow ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. 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 () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the hi ...

. 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 six counties of Northern Ireland. The county covers an area of and had a population of 63,585 as of 2021. Enniskillen is the ...

, who descend from the Lauries of

Maxwelltown Maxwelltown (, 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. In 1929 Maxwellto ...

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

, 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. (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 an Irish painter best known for his portraits and wartime depictions. Life and career John Lavery was born in inner North Belfast, on 20 March 1856 and baptised at St Patrick's Church ...

(1856–1941), Irish painter *

Hazel Lavery Hazel Lavery, Lady Lavery (née Martyn; 1880–1935) was an American painter and the second wife of portrait artist Sir John Lavery. Famed for her beauty, Lavery's likeness appeared on banknotes of Ireland for much of the 20th century.Sinead Mc ...

(1880–1935), American–Irish painter, artist's model on Irish banknotes * Father

Sean Lavery Sean Lavery (1931–1999) was a Roman Catholic priest for the Missionary Society of St. Columban ("''The Columbans''") and a church music director. Lavery was born in Lurgan, County Armagh. Shortly after his ordination in 1954, Father Lavery m ...

(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 for ...

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

Politics

* Cecil Lavery (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 Coolgardie, ...

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

Ian Lavery Ian Lavery (born 6 January 1963) is a British Labour Party (UK), Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Blyth and Ashington (UK Parliament constituency), Blyth and Ashingto ...

(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 former professional racing cyclist. 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 team pursuit squad ...

(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 parti ...

(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 American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2 ...

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

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States * William J. Lavery (born 1938), judge in Connecticut, United States

Lowrys

* Calvin Lowry, American football player *

Dave Lowry David John Lowry (born February 14, 1965) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played in the NHL from 1985 to 2004. Lowr ...

, ice hockey player * Flora E. Lowry (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 ...

, American Methodist missionary to China * Heath W. Lowry, historian * Henry Berry Lowrie, Confederate outlaw * Henry Dawson Lowry, English journalist * James Lowry, Jr., mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania * Joseph Wilson Lowry, 18th century engraver *

Kyle Lowry Kyle Terrell Lowry (born March 25, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A six-time All-Star, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016 and won an NBA c ...

, American basketball player *

L. S. Lowry Laurence Stephen Lowry ( ; 1 November 1887 – 23 February 1976) was an English artist. His drawings and paintings mainly depict Pendlebury, Greater Manchester (where he lived and worked for more than 40 years) as well as Salford and its ...

, 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; born March 20, 1937) is an American writer. She is the author of many books for children and young adults, including '' The Giver Quartet'', '' Number the Stars'', the Anastasia series, and '' Rabble Starkey''. ...

, 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's 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, chemist *

Michael Lowry (politician) 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 North constituency. He previously served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications ...

, Irish politician *

Noah Lowry Noah Ryan Lowry (born October 10, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants from 2003 to 2007. College and the MLB Draft Lowry was first drafted out of Nordho ...

, baseball pitcher * Oliver Lowry, a biochemist *

Ray Lowry Ray Lowry (28 August 1944 – 14 October 2008) was an English cartoonist, illustrator and satirist, possessing a highly distinctive style and wit. He contributed to ''The Guardian'', ''Private Eye'', '' Punch'', ''Tatler'' and ''NME'', among ma ...

, cartoonist, musician *

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

, 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 – November 25, 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. He was knighted in 1971 and created a life peer in 1979. The son ...

(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) Shane Thomas Lowry (born 12 June 1989) is a professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, centre-back or a Defender (association football)#Full-back, left-back for Johor Darul Ta'zim F. ...

, 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-Bridge ...

, 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Twin Cities area of Minneapolis, St. Pau ...

, businessman * Tommy Lowry, English footballer

Lowery

* Bill Lowery (politician) (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 ...

(1924–2004), American music entrepreneur *

Clint Lowery Clint Edward Lowery (born December 15, 1971) is an American musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a guitarist and backing vocalist in 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 music, rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1994 by bassist Vinnie Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly (musician), John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon an ...

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 Dark ...

(born 1973), bass guitarist of

Eye Empire Eye Empire was an American rock band formed in 2009, consisting of Corey Lowery and B.C. Kochmit, Donald Carpenter, Garrett Whitlock and Dixie Duncan. Will Hunt joined the band in 2010 before departing in 2011, replaced by Ryan Bennett. ...

Saint Asonia Saint Asonia (stylized as SΔINT ΔSONIΔ) is a Canadian-American rock supergroup consisting of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Gontier, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Cale Gontier, and drummer Cody Watkins. ...

, 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. Their ...

Damon Lowery Damon Lowery (born November 13, 1967) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Alaska Southeast before playing his entire professional career in Australia. He played in the South E ...

(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 Hugh Lowery (July 19, 1892 – September 5, 1972) was an American football player. He played at the tackle position for the 1920 Detroit Heralds during the first regular season of the National Football League (NFL), then known as the Ameri ...

(1892–1972), American football player *

Ian Lowery Ian Lowery (27 March 1956 – 14 July 2001) was an English vocalist and poet who fronted several bands, including The Wall, Ski Patrol, Folk Devils, and King Blank, as well as recording as a solo artist. Career The punk rock years: the Prefabs ...

(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 Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer and the only original member remaining of the Marilyn Manson (band), same-titled band he founded in 1989. Th ...

and

Rob Zombie Robert Bartleh Cummings (born January 12, 1965), known professionally as Rob Zombie, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live show ...

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. and ...

(1921-2020), American minister and civil rights leader * Lillian M. Lowery, superintendent of the Maryland State Department of Education * Mark Lowery (1957–2023), member of the

Arkansas House of Representatives The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House has 100 members elected from an equal number of constituencies across the state. Each distr ...

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. He was the second actor to play Batman, appearing as the character in ...

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

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

New York City Fire Commissioner The New York City fire commissioner is the civilian administrator of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and is appointed by the mayor of the City of New York. Prior to 1865, the New York City Fire Department was staffed by volunteers. On ...

* Savannah Lowery, 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 pe ...

(born 1970), American professional baseball player and college basketball player *

Tom Lowery Thomas Richard Lowery (born 31 December 1997) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. Club career Crewe Alexandra A graduate of the Crewe Alexandra Academy, Lowery signed his firs ...

(born 1997), English footballer * Tony Lowery (born 1961), English footballer * Tony Lowery (born 1969), American football player

References

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