McClymont

Recorded in many spelling forms including Lamond, Lammond, Lamont, MacLamond, MacLamont, Macclymond, Macclmont, Macclymount, and the shortened spellings commencing "Mc", this is a very old surname of Norse-Viking origins. Although this makes no difference to the age of the surname or its origins, without the prefix it can be either English or Scottish, although with the prefix it is always Scottish. It is derived from the pre 7th century Norse word "logmaur", meaning lawman or lawyer, and comprised of the elements "log", meaning "law", "legja", to lay down, with "mathr" meaning man. The name in the same spelling is found in the rural districts of Northern England, where there was Scandinavian settlement, and especially in Lancashire, whilst in Scotland the name is most associated with Argyllshire. As a personal name it is recorded in England as Laghman in Lancashire in 1247, and in Scotland as Ladhmunn in 1116. Early examples of the recordings include John Lawmansone of Perth who rendered homage in 1296, John Lawmond of that Ilk, in Paisley in 1466, and Donald McClymont, a farmer in Ayrshire in 1613. The first recorded spelling of the hereditary family name is believed to be that of Malmery Maklaweman, of Argyll, which was dated 1270, in the ancient charters of the goverment of Scotland. This was during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249 - 1286. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.