Surname Lough - Meaning and Origin
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Lough: What does the surname Lough mean?
The last name Lough is an Irish surname with several possible origins. It is generally believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word “loch,” meaning “lake.” It is thought to have originated as a local name for people living near a body of water.
The surname is also believed to have derived from an Old Norse personal name, Lógr, meaning “u-shaped body of water.” This name primarily comes from the part of Northern Ireland known as Ulster.
The name was also used by people who had traveled from England and settled in Ireland, so it is possible that the surname is Anglo-Norman in origin.
The surname Lough has a variety of spellings such as Logh, Low, Lowgh, Lauh, and Laugh. Lough is also the anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac an Lugh, meaning “son of the decision-maker.” This indicates that people with the surname were associated with competence, determination, and influence.
The surname Lough can be found primarily in Irish and British genealogical records. It is also used in the United States, where many Irish emigrants settled in the 19th century. Currently, the last name Lough remains common in Ireland and Great Britain, but can also be found throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisLough: Where does the name Lough come from?
The last name Lough is a common surname primarily found in Ireland and other countries with Irish connections. It is a derivation of the Gaelic word ‘loch’, which can mean a lake or inlet of the sea.
The surname is fairly evenly distributed across all of Ireland, with the remaining members of the clan widely scattered around the world, with some concentrations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Lough clans are connected to the McCourt (McArdle) and Darcy clans. The clan’s crest badge includes a green stag’s head, violin, blue and silver panel, and a red wreath.
Lough is most likely the Irish-language form of the English word 'lock', which is itself derived from the Latin word 'lacus', meaning 'a lake'.
The Lough surname is most common in counties in the south of Ireland, such as Cork, Tipperary, Kerry, and Limerick. It is less common in other provinces such as Leinster and Ulster, but is still to be found in places like Londonderry.
The exact origin of the Lough surname is unclear, but it is believed to have derived from either a personal name or a place name. It is also thought that some families adopted the name because of their connection with a lake, a sign of their connection to one another and their native Irish culture.
Variations of the surname Lough
The surname Lough has several variants and spellings including Loch, Loc, Lock, Lok, Loks, Loke, Lacks, and Laughs. All these variants and spellings are derived from the same origin, which is the old Gaelic word “loch”. The word “loch” refers to a small lake, and the surname originated to indicate a family who lived near or in a lake.
The surnames Lock, Loke, Loks, Lacks, and Laughs are derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “loc”, referring to a walled enclosure. The surname Lock is the most popular form of the name, particularly in England. The origin of this variant is traced to a family who lived near a locked cemetery or castle.
The surname Lough is also derived from the Irish Gaelic word “laoch”, meaning warrior or hero. This variant was popular as a first name, as well as surname. It is also a variation of the surname MacLoughlin, and was carried by a minor Irish sept in the province of Connacht.
In Scotland, the surname Lough is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word “luch”, which refers to a marshy area. In Ireland, the surname was also used as a nickname for people who had a strong voice, due to the Gaelic word “laugh”, meaning “voice”. As a result, the variant Laughs is the surname form of the word.
Overall, the surname Lough has numerous variants and spellings, all of which have the same origin. Variations include Lock, Loke, Loks, Laughs, Lacks, and MacLoughlin. While the variants are varied, they all ultimately refer to a location, a hero or a strong voice.
Famous people with the name Lough
- Patricia Lough: Irish former swimmer renowned for becoming the first Irish swimmer to qualify for the Summer Olympics.
- Eunan Lough: Gaelic footballer playing for the Donegal GAA who was part of the 2019 All-Ireland football championship-winning team.
- Daniel Lough: British-American actor, best known for his portrayal of Terry in the Netflix original series The Society.
- Chris Lough: Canadian actress and singer/songwriter, best known for her roles in Supernatural, The Edge of Seventeen and Get Shorty.
- Anne Lough: American contemporary artist who’s exhibited her photography and paintings in galleries and museums worldwide.
- Simon Lough: Australian Paralympic swimmer who has taken home multiple medals from the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games.
- Tara Lough: American figure skater who has competed in the 2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
- Jocelyn Lough: Canadian filmmaker and documentarian known for her acclaimed short films, including “On the Rocks” and “Named/Unnamed”.
- Dashiell Lough: American actor and dancer, best known for his roles in Disney Channel's Andi Mack and the Netflix movie StarStruck.
- Terry Lough: American academic, author and former Marine Corps officer who specializes in military strategy, diplomacy and Middle East policy.