Loch

Recorded as Loch and Lough, this is an ancient surname. It is Scottish but from the 17th century as Lough is also well recorded in Northern Ireland. It is residential and appears to describe a dweller by a loch, generally a water filled valley, sometimes connected with the sea. Perhaps surprisingly as both Scotland and Ireland are fulls of lochs, and according to Black's Surnames of Scotland, the name is said to have a specific place of origin. If correct this is Portmore Loch in the parish of Eddleston in Peebleshire. Certainly the first recording is from this area with that Reginald of the Loch who for some reason renounced his marriage portion and his lands in about 1214. Other recordings of that period include Walterus de Lacu, a name recording which is a mix of Latin, French and Old English, a witnessss to a charter confirming lands to the monks of Neubotle in the year 1230 a.d., although this seems to have nothing to do with the previous land loss. However it seems that for the next two centuries the family sought to recover their property, although without much success. In 1296 one Malise de Loughs was taken prisoner by the English and held Dunbar Castle. Presumably he was of some value, because he was allowed "monies." Finally in the 17th century name holders gained the lands of Drylaw in Midlothian, and also the lands of Rachan in Peebleshire.