Laoigh

Laoigh is a name of Irish origin that appears in historical and modern records as a given name and as a component in surnames. The form is related to the medieval Gaelic name Laoghaire and to the common Irish root laogh, meaning “calf,” or possibly to laoch, meaning “warrior.” Etymological connections among these elements are discussed in onomastic sources, but there is no single agreed-upon meaning for Laoigh itself.

In usage, Laoigh is rare in contemporary Ireland and among Irish communities abroad, but it occurs in linguistic and genealogical contexts as a Gaelic form or variant. It can appear as a given name in modern Gaelic contexts or as part of a patronymic surname such as Ó Laoigha or its anglicized forms. Anglicizations associated with related names include Leary or Leahy, though exact lineage depends on regional naming practices.

Historically, the closely related form Laoghaire appears in early Irish sources, with figures such as Laoghaire mac Néill documented in medieval chronicles. This underscores the root presence in Gaelic naming traditions and its influence on later forms. In modern times, Laoigh is primarily encountered as a rare given name rather than a widely used surname or place name.

There are no widely recognized geographic locations named Laoigh in standard reference works. Notable associations with the root name are found in related spellings such as Laoghaire and its descendants, rather than in a separate, distinct entity named Laoigh. See also Laoghaire, Laogh, Ó Laoigha.