laurin

Laurin is a surname of Czech origin and is sometimes encountered as a given name in Slavic contexts. It is most closely associated with the early history of Czech industry and the development of the modern automotive sector in Central Europe.

The name is best known from Václav Laurin (1865–1930), a Czech engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Laurin & Klement in 1895 in Mladá Boleslav with Václav Klement. The company began as a bicycle manufacturer, expanded to motorcycles in the early 20th century, and soon moved into automobile production. In 1925 Laurin & Klement was acquired by the Skoda Works, becoming part of what would later be known as Škoda Auto. The merger marked the transition from a standalone company to a component of a larger automotive group, and the Laurin & Klement brand was eventually absorbed into Škoda’s operations.

Today, Laurin remains a relatively uncommon surname outside its Czech roots, though it persists in historical references to early European automotive history. The most enduring legacy of the name is its association with the origins of Laurin & Klement and the beginnings of Škoda Auto.