The author, Hilton McLaurin is a descendant of Duncan McLerran, 1790 settler near present day Laurinburg, North Carolina. Duncan led a contingent of sixteen McLaurin and a Stewart families from Appin, Scotland to the Upper Pee Dee River valley in North Carolina. Earlier, Appin kinfolk, now in the Cape Fear, had led the way. Hilton started researching the Kindred in Scotland with the surname meaning son of Laurence, under Banks McLaurin Jr. the Editor of a "Clan MacLaren Quarterly" for over a decade in the 1960s and 1970s.

The main hypothesis that Hilton has come to, is that the modern surnames McLaren, and McLaurin, and McLerran, and their many variations in spelling, is not derived from one single individual. The modern surnames are derived from multiple individuals within a Kindred where the given name Laurence, is used frequently. Resulting in many McLaurences across a wide region of Scotland. The following is a compendium of contemporaneous primary sources and later secondary sources, that are readily available online or with a few queries.

I hope that this resource is helpful in your research

Hilton McLaurin

Table of Contents
Glenorchy's - Clanlaurane of Breadalbane
Lorin Mak Gilserf - Kenmore - 1258
Clan McLabhrainn pillaged the priory in Strath Fillan
The Coarb of St. Fillan
The rise of the Glenorchy Campbells
The Black Book of Taymouth
Loch Tay
Crannich, Loch Tay
1549 Argyle cancels debt or penalty to Breadalbane 'indwellers'
In 1552 the M'Acrom brothers renounce their M'Gregour Chief
John M'Alester V'Lawrence, Chamberlain of Kinclavin
Donald McRobart V'Laurent, Kindrochit, Loch Tay
Malcolm McRobart V'Laurent, Ardtalnaig, Loch Tay
Candroquhat and nearby Ardtalnaig
Clanlaurane granted to Colyne Campbell of Glenurchy
McLaurane accept Campbell Glenurchy Perpetual Clan Chief
Clan Lawren Campbell of Glenurchy Perpetual Chief and Master
May 1562
1563 Kill all MacGregors
Obituary: -Book of the Dean of Lismore
1564 Letters of maintenance of the clan Larane
ClanLawren' endorses Campbell Glenurchy Perpetual Clan Chief
1587 and 1594 "The Roll of the Clannis"
McLaurence Kindred Servitors in Campbell of Glenurchy Records
Patrick Mcconill Wiklawrent to Duncan Campbell of Glenurchy
1611 Archibald Mcilvoyll McLowrin arrested with MacGregors
1667 Atholl Vassals
1696 John McLaren killed
1705 Atholl Vassals
Clunie Jan. 29th, 1705
1706 Atholl Vassals
1713 McLaren piper to the Duke of Atholl
SOURCES