Lochlainn (given Name)
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Lachlan () is a masculine
given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...
of Scottish Gaelic origin.


Origins

The name is an
Anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...
form of the
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
''Lachlann'', which is in turn derived from the earlier
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 ...
personal name ''Lochlann''. In the ninth century, the terms '' Laithlinn'' / '' Laithlind'' (etc.), appear in historical sources as terms denoting the origin of
Vikings Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9â ...
active in Ireland. The exact meaning behind these terms is uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the terms ''
Lochlann In the modern Gaelic languages, () signifies Scandinavia or, more specifically, Norway. As such it is cognate with the Welsh name for Scandinavia, (). In both old Gaelic and old Welsh, such names literally mean 'land of lakes' or 'land of sw ...
'' / ''
Lochlainn In the modern Gaelic languages, () signifies Scandinavia or, more specifically, Norway. As such it is cognate with the Welsh name for Scandinavia, (). In both old Gaelic and old Welsh, such names literally mean 'land of lakes' or 'land of sw ...
'' (etc.) came to replace these earlier terms; and that, by the eleventh century, ''Lochlann'' / ''Lochlainn'' certainly referred to
Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
in historical sources. Whether the terms ''Lochlann'' / ''Lochlainn'' were originally related to ''Laithlinn'' / ''Laithlind'', or merely
conflated Conflation is the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, or opinions into one, often in error. Conflation is defined as 'fusing blending', but is often used colloquially as 'being equal to' - treating two similar but disparate c ...
with them, is unknown. In mediaeval Irish literature, the term ''Lochlann'' refers to a vague faraway place: sometimes the
Otherworld In historical Indo-European religion, the concept of an otherworld, also known as an otherside, is reconstructed in comparative mythology. Its name is a calque of ''orbis alius'' (Latin for "other world/side"), a term used by Lucan in his desc ...
, and sometimes
Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...
. Pet forms of ''Lachlan'' include ''Lachie'', ''Lachy'', Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 162. and '' Lockie'' ( ). A feminine form of the name is ''Lachina''. A related form of ''Lachlan'' is the Irish ''Lochlainn''. Anglicised forms of this latter name include ''Laughlin'' ( ) and ''Loughlin'' ( ). ''Lochlainn'' has also been rendered into English as ''
Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...
''. Ó Corráin; Maguire (1981) p. 123. A variant form of ''Lachlann'' in
Argyll Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...
is ''Lachann'', a name influenced by the similarly sounding (though etymologically unrelated) '' Eachann''. Black (1971) p. 410. Historically, the name ''Lachlan'' and its variants were most commonly found in
Argyll Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...
. The following proverb contains the name Lachlan : ''"Mar mhadadh ag ol eanruich ainmean Chlann ‘ll ‘Eathain “Eachann, Lachann.”'' or; "Like a hound lapping broth are the names of the Clan Maclean "Eachan, Lachan" "Hector, Lachlan". The senior branch of
Clan Maclean Clan Maclean (; Scottish Gaelic: ' ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highlands Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early Macle ...
are the Macleans of Duart. This branch was established in the 14th century on the Inner Hebridean
Isle of Mull The Isle of Mull or simply Mull ( ) is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) and lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Council areas of Scotland, council area of Argyll and Bute. Covering , Mull is the fourth-lar ...
. The first Laird was known as Lachainn Lubanach or "Lachlan the crafty". Of the first fourteen Lairds of Duart, seven were named Lachlan and seven were named Hector. Forms of the name ''Lochlainn'' were borne by
Uí Néill The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...
and other families in the
Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages (historiography), Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th to the 10th century. They marked the start o ...
. Before the beginning of the nineteenth century, forms of the name were common amongst families in northern
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
, but have since become unfashionable. Forms of the name ''Lachlan'' were historically common amongst families with connections to the
Scottish Highlands The Highlands (; , ) is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands, Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Scots language, Lowland Scots language replaced Scottish Gae ...
, but have become popular in Australia and New Zealand. A less common variant is the name ''
Lauchlan Lauchlan is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: ;Surname * Agnes Lauchlan (1905–1993), British stage, film and television actress * Bill Lauchlan (1916–2009), Scottish communist activist *Doug Lauchlan Doug ...
''. Modern
patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, b ...
forms of the personal name ''Lochlann'' include the Irish surnames ''
Mac Lochlainn The Mac Lochlainn () were a leading branch of the Cenél nEógain and during the early medieval period, the most powerful clan in the Northern Uí Néill. McGettigan (2005). They descended from Domnall Dabaill (died 915), son of Áed Findliath. ...
'', and ''
Ó Lochlainn Ó Lochlainn and Ua Lochlainn are Irish surnames. They are patronymic forms of the personal name ''Lochlann''. The surnames have been borne by several Irish families, such as the Uí Lochlainn, and the Meic Lochlainn. A variant form of ''Ó Loch ...
''. A patronymic form of the personal name ''Lachlann'' is the Scottish Gaelic surname ''
MacLachlainn McLachlan ( ), McLachlan or McLaglen is a surname. It is derived from the Irish ''MacLachlainn'', which is in turn a patronymic form of the Gaelic personal name ''Lachlann''. Notable people with the surname include: McLachlan *Alexander McLachlan ...
''. Forms of the personal names first appear on record in the tenth century. The earliest known bearer of such names was Lochlaind mac MaĂ­l Shechnaill, heir of the Corca Mruad, whose death is noted by the ''
Annals of Inisfallen The ''Annals of Inisfallen'' () are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. Overview There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between 433 and 1450. The manuscript is thought to have been compiled in 1092, as the chronic ...
'' in 983. Ó Murchadha (1992–1993) p. 69; Ó Cuív (1988) p. 83. Another member of the Corca Mruad, a certain Lochlainn, is recorded by the same source to have been slain in 1015. Afterwards, the principal family of the region was the Uí Lochlainn, who bore the surname '' Ua Lochlainn''. Ó Cuív (1988) p. 85; Ó Murchadha (1992–1993) p. 69. In
Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
, the ''
Annals of Ulster The ''Annals of Ulster'' () are annals of History of Ireland, medieval Ireland. The entries span the years from 431 AD to 1540 AD. The entries up to 1489 AD were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe RuaidhrĂ­ Ó LuinĂ ...
'' record the slaying of a Lochlainn mac MaĂ­l Shechlainn, an
Uí Néill The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...
dynast, in 1023. This man's powerful grandson, Domnall Ua Lochlainn, High King of Ireland, ensured that their descendants, the
Meic Lochlainn The Mac Lochlainn () were a leading branch of the Cenél nEógain and during the early medieval period, the most powerful clan in the Northern Uí Néill. McGettigan (2005). They descended from Domnall Dabaill (died 915), son of Áed Findliath. A ...
, bore the surnames ''Mac Lochlainn'' and ''Ua Lochlainn''. The
eponymous An eponym is a noun after which or for which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. Adjectives derived from the word ''eponym'' include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Eponyms are commonly used for time periods, places, innovati ...
ancestor of the Scottish Clann Lachlainn, traditionally regarded as yet another branch of the Uí Néill, was a much later man who bore a form of the name ''Lachlan''.


Popularity

In the 2000s and 2010s, ''Lachlan'' was a common baby name in Australia and New Zealand, ranking within the top ten masculine names registered in several Australian states. In 2008, ''Lachlan'' was ranked as the third most popular masculine baby name in
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, with 581 registered that year. The same year, the name was ranked as the sixth most popular masculine baby name in
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
, with 438 registered. In 2013 it was the tenth most popular name for boys in Australia. In 2018, the name was more popular in New Zealand than in Australia, as it ranked 13th in New Zealand, and 17th in Australia. The name used to be popular in Scotland, and Ireland, but the use of the name in those countries has been decreasing in recent years.


People


Given name


Lachlann

*
Lachlann Mac Ruaidhrí Lachlann Mac Ruaidhrí (fl. 1297 – 1307/1308) was a Scottish magnate and Scottish clan chief, chief of Clann Ruaidhrí. He was a free-booting participant in the First War of Scottish Independence, who remarkably took up arms against figures su ...
(fl. 1297–1307/1308), Scottish magnate


Lachlan

* Lachlan, Lord of Galloway (died 1200) * Lachlan Boshier (born 1994), New Zealand rugby union player *
Lachlan Buchanan Lachlan Buchanan is an Australian actor. Biography Buchanan was born on 25 April 1987 in Australia and grew up in Maleny, Queensland. He attended Maleny State School and Matthew Flinders Anglican College. Buchanan acted in soap operas such as ...
(born 1990), Australian actor *
Lachlan Burr Lachlan Burr (born 27 September 1992) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a and for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL. He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Gold Coast T ...
(born 1992), Australian rugby league player *
Lachlan Coote Lachlan Coote (born 6 April 1990) is a former Australian rugby league footballer who last played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. Coote previously played in the National Rugby League for the Penrith Panthers and the North Queens ...
(born 1990), Australian rugby league player * Lachlan Dent (born 2000), Australian basketball player * Lachlan Donald Ian Mackinnon (1882–1948), Royal Navy officer * Lachlan Dreher, Australian field hockey player * Lachlan “Lac” Edwards, Australian gridiron football player * Lachlan Elmer, Australian field hockey player *
Lachlan Gillespie Lachlan Gillespie (born 23 October 1985) is an Australian children's entertainer, singer, musician, and actor. He is a member of the Wiggles and wears the purple skivvy. Early life Gillespie began playing the piano at the age of four, and start ...
(born 1985), Australian children's entertainer * Lachlan Gordon-Duff (1817–1892), British politician, MP for Banffshire * Lachlan Grant (1871–1945), Scottish doctor *
Lachlan Hansen Lachlan Hansen (born 17 August 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). AFL career Hansen was drafted by North Melbourne with pick thr ...
, Australian rules footballer *
Lachlan Mackinnon Lachlan Mackinnon (born 1956) is a contemporary British poet, critic and literary journalist. Born in Aberdeen, he was raised in England and the United States. He was educated at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford. He took early retirement ...
(born 1956), Scottish poet, critic and literary journalist * Lachlan Maclean (disambiguation), several people * Lachlan Macleay (born 1931), American officer in the United States Air Force, trained as an astronaut *
Lachlan Macquarie Major-general (United Kingdom), Major General Lachlan Macquarie, Companion of the Order of the Bath, CB (; ; 31 January 1762 – 1 July 1824) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Scotland. Macquarie served as the fifth Gove ...
(1762–1824), Scottish officer in the British Army, last autocratic Governor of New South Wales * Lachlan Maranta (born 1992), Australian Rugby League player * Lachlan McCaffrey (born 1990), Australian rugby union player *
Lachlan McGillivray Lachlan McGillivray (–1799) was a prosperous fur trader and planter in colonial Georgia with interests that extended from Savannah to what is now central Alabama. He was the father of Alexander McGillivray and the great-uncle of William McIntosh ...
(c. 1718 – 1799), Scottish emigrant to Georgia, fur trader and plantation owner *
Lachlan McIntosh Lachlan McIntosh (March 17, 1725 – February 20, 1806) was a Scottish American military and political leader during the American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in whic ...
(1725–1806), Scottish American general in the Continental Army *
Lachlan McLean (news anchor) Lachlan McLean is a news anchor for Spectrum News 1, a 24-hour cable news network serving the state of Kentucky. He has been the primary 5:00pm anchor since the network debuted in November 2018. He formerly hosted "The Midday Rush" sports talk ra ...
(born 1968), American radio host * Lachlan McPherson (born 1900), Scottish footballer with Notts County, Swansea and Everton * Lachlan Mitchell, Australian rugby union player *
Lachlan Morton Lachlan David Morton (born 2 January 1992) is an Australian professional gravel and road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . Career Born and raised in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, Morton spent the 2011 and 201 ...
(born 1992), Australian professional road racing cyclist *
Lachlan Murdoch Lachlan Keith Murdoch (; born 8 September 1971) is a British and Australian businessman and mass media heir. He is the son of the media Business magnate, tycoon Rupert Murdoch. He is the executive chairman of Nova Entertainment, chairman of N ...
(born 1971), British media executive * Lachlan Murray (born 1988), Australian actor * Lachlan Nieboer (born 1981), English actor and producer * Lachlan Pendragon (fl. 2020's), Oscar-nominated Australian animator * Lachlan Power (born 1995), Australian YouTuber * Lachlan Renshaw, Australian middle-distance runner * Lachlan Ross (born 1973), Australian rules footballer *
Lachlan Stevens Lachlan McRae Stevens (born 31 December 1978) is an Australian former cricketer and current cricket coach. He played as a left-handed batsman for South Australia and Queensland. He is currently the batting and assistant coach at Somerset, and ha ...
(born 1978), Australian cricket player and coach * Lachlan Turner (born 1987), Australian rugby union player *
Lachlan Wales Lachlan Andrew Wales (born 19 October 1997) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Perth Glory. Club career Central Coast Mariners Wales progressed from the youth ranks of the Central Coast Mariners to make his prof ...
(born 1997), Australian soccer player * Lachlan Walmsley (born 1998), Scottish rugby league footballer *
Lachlan Watson Lachlan Watson (born April 12, 2001) is an American actor, best known for playing trans boy Theo Putnam in the Netflix original series ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'', and Glen and Glenda, the genderfluid twin children of Chucky, in the se ...
, American actor


Lachie/Lachy

*
Lachy Doley Lachlan R. Doley is an Australian musician, singer and songwriter best known for playing the Hammond organ and whammy clavinet. Doley has recorded and/or toured with Jimmy Barnes, Glenn Hughes (British musician), Glenn Hughes, Billy Thorpe, Joe ...
, Australian musician *
Lachie Henderson Lachlan Stuart Henderson (born 14 December 1989) is a former Australian rules footballer, who played for the Brisbane Lions, the Carlton Football Club and the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Junior career Henders ...
, Australian rules footballer *
Lachy Hulme Lachy Hulme (born 1 April 1971) is an Australian actor and screenwriter. He has written several films and has appeared in a number of Australian and US film and television productions. Early life Hulme was born in Melbourne, Victoria where he h ...
(born 1971), Australian actor and screenwriter * Lachie Hunter (born 1994), AFL footballer * Lachie McMillan (1900–1983), Scottish footballer * Lachie Munro (born 1986), New Zealand rugby player *
Lachie Neale Lachlan Oliver Neale (born 24 May 1993) is an Australian rules footballer and the co-captain of the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Fremantle Football Club from 2012 to 2018 before being tra ...
(born 1993), AFL footballer * Lachie Plowman (born 1994), AFL footballer *
Lachie Stewart Joseph Laughlin Stewart (22 June 1943 – 31 May 2025) was a Scottish distance runner, and an inductee in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame and competed for Great Britain in the 10,000 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Biography Stewart fin ...
(1943–2025), Scottish distance runner * Lachie Thomson (1873–1940), English footballer *
Lachie Whitfield Lachlan Whitfield (born 18 July 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was the first overall selection in the 2012 AFL draft. Early years He ...
(born 1994), AFL footballer


Lochlann/Lochlan/Lochlainn

*
Lochlainn Ó hUiginn Lochlainn Ó hUiginn (died 1464) was a member of the Ó hUiginn brehon family. The ''Annals of Connacht The ''Annals of Connacht'' (), covering the years 1224 to 1544, are drawn from a manuscript compiled in the 15th and 16th centuries by at ...
(died 1464), member of the Ó hUiginn brehon family * Lochlann Ó Mearáin (born 1973), Irish actor *
Lochlann of Galloway Lochlann of Galloway (died 12 December 1200), also known as Lochlan mac Uchtred and by his French name Roland fitz Uhtred, was the son and successor of Uchtred, Lord of Galloway as the "Lord" or "sub-king" of eastern Galloway. Family Lochlann ...
(died 1200), Lord of eastern Galloway *
Lochlann Óg Ó Dálaigh Lochlann Óg Ó Dálaigh, early modern Irish poet, fl. ca. 1610. A native of Munster and a member of the Ó Dálaigh clan of poets, he wrote poetry lamenting the eclipse of the native society and culture of Ireland. ''Cait ar ghabhader Gaoidhil?' ...
, 17th-century Irish poet *
Lochlainn O'Raifeartaigh Lochlainn O'Raifeartaigh (; 11 March 1933 – 18 November 2000) was an Irish physicist in the field of theoretical particle physics. He is best known for O'Raifeartaigh's no-go theorem, the O'Raifeartaigh Theorem, a result in unification th ...
(1933–2000), Irish physicist * Lochlann Quinn (born 1941), Irish entrepreneur * Lochlan Watt (born 1987), Australian broadcaster *
S. Lochlann Jain S. Lochlann Jain is an author and artist, in addition to being a professor in the Anthropology Department at Stanford University, where they teach medical and legal anthropology, and a visiting professor of social medicine in the Department of Globa ...
, writer and academic


Fictional characters

*
Lachlan Fraser Lachlan "Lachie" Fraser is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Richard Grieve. He made his screen debut on 19 March 1997 and last appeared on 27 November 1998. He joined the show after ...
, from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'' * Lachlan "Lockie" Leonard, main character in Tim Winton's Lockie Leonard books


Surname


Notes


Citations


References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{given name English-language masculine given names Masculine given names Scottish masculine given names