From Ó Leathlobhair, an old and unflattering nickname meaning ‘half-leper’ — chiefs of Uí Buí in Laois.
The Lawlor certificate.
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Gaelic Origin · Root meaning ‘half-leper’
Lawlor comes from Ó Leathlobhair, joining leath (‘half’) with lobhar (‘leper’) — a stark nickname, likely describing an ancestor's illness or appearance, that became a hereditary name in the way medieval Ireland rarely softened for comfort. The family ruled Uí Buí in County Laois, alongside the O'Moores among the toughest of the Laois septs to hold out against plantation.
Gaelic Ireland named things plainly, even its own people — this is one of the surnames in the library that proves it.
Irish form: Ó Leathlobhair
