The spelling of the name "McLaughin" is derived from the Irish surname "Mac Lochlainn", which means "son of Lochlainn". The phonetic transcription of this word is /məkˈlɔːxlən/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It can be broken down into three syllables: "mək" for the prefix "Mac", which means "son of"; "lɔːxl", which represents the Irish name Lochlainn; and "ən" to signify the diminutive or endearing form of the name. The spelling of this name reflects its Irish Gaelic origins and the historical influence of the Irish language on English.
The word "McLaughlin" is a surname of Irish origin. It derives from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Lochlainn, meaning "son of Lochlann". Lochlann is itself a Gaelic term for "Viking" or "Scandinavian", indicating that the name originally referred to someone of Norse descent in Ireland. Over time, the name Mac Lochlainn evolved into its anglicized form, McLaughlin, as it was passed down through generations.