O'Lawlor

The name O'Lawlor (also spelled Lawlor, Lalor, and other variations) is an Irish surname. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Leathlobhair, meaning "descendant of Leathlobhar."

The personal name Leathlobhar is composed of the elements leath, meaning "half" or "side," and lobhar, meaning "leper" or "sickly one." The exact meaning and origin of the name are somewhat obscure, but it may have referred to someone with a physical ailment or a defining characteristic related to health.

The O'Lawlors were historically associated with the territory of Laois (Queen's County) in Ireland, specifically the Slieve Bloom Mountains region. They were one of the seven septs of Laois that resisted English expansion into the area. The O'Lawlor clan faced significant displacement and land confiscation during the English colonization of Ireland, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Today, individuals bearing the O'Lawlor/Lawlor surname are found throughout Ireland and the diaspora, particularly in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. The surname serves as a reminder of a distinct Irish heritage and a connection to the history of Laois.