Lachlan

Lachlan or Loughlin is a boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin.

Etymology

"Lochlainn" means "Of the lake" / "from the land of lakes", a reference to Norway which was called "Lochlann" in Scotland. Thus, it used to refer to a Viking ancestor. As well as referring specifically to Norway, "Lochlainn" was also the name of a remote place in Irish fairy tales.

The word "Laochail" was also used in Gaelic to mean "Warlike". In this sense, Lachlan may mean "bellicose" or "belligerent".

The MacLachlan clan takes its name from Lachlan Mor (Big Lachlan) a chief who lived near Loch Fryne in the 13th century.

Variants

Alternative Scottish spellings are "Lachlann", "Lauchlan" and "Laochailan".

Irish forms include "Loughlin" (most common), "Lochlain(n)", "Lochlann" and "Laughlin".

The English form is "Lauchlin". This form is also a translation of the unrelated Irish name "Leachlainn", an abbreviation of "Maeleachlainn", meaning 'servant of St Secundinus'.

"M(a)cLachlan" and "O'Loughlin" are the Scottish and Irish forms of "son of Lachlan" and "grandson of Loughlin".

The dimunutive forms are "Lachie" and "Lockie". The feminine form is "Lachina".

Famous Lachlans

The following are notable people, places and things called "Lachlan".
* Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales 1810-1821 after whom the following were named:
** Lachlan River after which the following were named:
*** Lachlan Shire and Upper Lachlan Shire
*** Electoral district of Lachlan
*** HMAS Lachlan / HMNZS Lachlan, frigate
* Lachlan Murdoch, media magnate
* Lachlan Macbean (1853-1931) British hymn and folk tale collector and translator.
* Lachlan McIntosh, US revolutionary

Geographic distribution

Scotland and Ireland

Despite its Gaelic origin, Lachlan and its variants are not currently in the top 50 most popular names in Scotland.

Australia

Lachlan has been a common name in Australia since 1997. In 2006, the name was given to 605 boys in New South Wales, making it the fourth most popular boy's name; between 1998 and 2006, it ranged between second and fourth most popular name. In Victoria, the name was given to 524 boys, making it the sixth most popular boy's name; between 1997 and 2006, it ranged between the most popular (1999) and sixth most popular name.

Loughlin is not a common given name in Australia.

United States

Fewer than 0.004% of Americans are called Lachlan, according to the 1990 census.

References

* [http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=lachlan BehindTheName.com]
* [http://www.irelandseye.com/irish/traditional/names/first/loughlin.shtm IrelandsEye.com]
* [http://www.gilcrist.com/ClanSite/qanda.htm MacLachlan clan]
* [http://www.geocities.com/edgarbook/names/l/lachlan.html Edgar Book]
* [http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/births/popularBabyNames.htm New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages]
* [http://online.justice.vic.gov.au/servlet/bdm_popular_names Victorian Justice Department]
* [http://www.dochara.com/stuff/names-pop-2005.php Popular Irish Names]
* [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/pernames/04names.html General Register Office for Scotland, The most popular names in Scotland, 2004]