Laura
f.
Withycombe s.n. Laura comments that the name is etymology of this name is obscure; it is likely related to Laurence, perhaps as a pet form of the feminine Laurencia. Because this identification is uncertain, Laura is generally treated as a distinct name.
The name of a 9th C Spanish saint and a 15th C Greek saint.
The name occurs in 14th C poetry as the name of the love of Petrarch, which contributed to its popularity in Renaissance Italy. Lowri and Lowry are distinctively Welsh forms.
- England
-
- Latin
- ● 1340xc1450 Lorra (nom) CovGuild-1 p. 62;
1377 Lora (nom) FenPT-2 p. 5;
1381 Lora (nom) Suffolk1381 p. 111;
1427 Loræ (gen) WillsInv LII
- Middle English
- ● 1427 Lore WillsInv LII
- Early Modern English
- ● 1560 Lowrye RegSASel p. 6;
1592 Loar COmar-vol2 p. 102
- France
-
- Latin
- ◑ 1301 Lorete (gen) MemPic-vol17 p. 200
- Italy
-
- Latin
- ● 1522x1532 Laura (nom) DSF p. 51, 20;
1527 Laura (nom) Rome1527 p. 83
- ◑ 1522x1532 Laurecta (nom) DSF p. 58, 35
- Spain
-
- Catalan
- ◑ 1510 Loreta valencia1510 4227
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Laura". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2016, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2016/3/name/Laura.