Lawlor Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Lawlor Family History

Lawlor Family History

The family history of the ancient name Lawlor was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Lawlor include Lalor and Lawler. The Lawlors, like their kinsmen the O'Mores, were one of the seven septs of Leix. The scene of the making of the Treaty, as a result of which the leading men of the seven septs were transplanted to County Kerry in 1609, is still called Lalor's Mills. Nearly all the Lalors, Lawlors and Lawlers in Ireland are to be found in Leinster, either in Leix or in the Counties lying to the east of it. The name of one Harry Lolor is traditionally preserved as the hero of 'The Massacre of Mullaghmast' in 1577 in which many innocent and unsuspecting Lalors, O'Mores and other inhabitants of Leix were treacherously done to death by the O'Dempseys in conjunction with the English planters of the district. The Gaelic form of the name is O'Leathlobhair, taken from two very early kings of the lands known as Ulidia.The Lawlor family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Lawlor descendants.