Akademik

Laurence m, f m

1 English: from a French form of Latin Laurentius ‘man from Laurentum’. Laurentum was a town in Latium, which may have got its name from Latin laurus laurel, or may alternatively be of pre-Roman origin. The given name was popular in the Middle Ages as a result of the fame of a 3rd-century saint who was one of the seven deacons of Rome. He was martyred in 258. The legend is that, having been required to hand over the Church's treasures to the civil authorities, he assembled the poor and sick and presented them. For this, he was supposedly roasted to death on a gridiron. In England the name is also associated with St Laurence of Canterbury (d. 619), the second bishop of Canterbury, who fought against pagan backsliding among his flock. See also LAWRENCE (SEE Lawrence).

2 (f.) French: feminine form of Laurent.