Laurens

Laurens is a masculine given name in Dutch and Afrikaans, equivalent to Laurence or Lawrence, and it also appears as a surname in Dutch and Flemish usage. It derives from the Latin Laurentius, meaning “laurelled” or “from Laurentum.” In Dutch-speaking regions, Laurens remains common as a first name and occasionally as a surname.

Geographically, Laurens appears in several U.S. place names. Laurens, South Carolina, is a city and the county seat of Laurens County; the place commemorates Henry Laurens, a colonial-era statesman. Laurens County, Georgia, is named for John Laurens, an American Revolutionary officer; its seat is Dublin. Laurens County, South Carolina, is named for Henry Laurens, and its county seat is Laurens. There are other, smaller places bearing the name Laurens in the United States as well.

The name Laurens also contributes to various surnames used by individuals in Dutch and Flemish communities, and it appears in historical and contemporary contexts alike. Related forms and variants include Laurence, Laurent, and Laurentius.