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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lowrence, -ance, Lourence, -ance, -ans. [Common Sc. var. of the personal name Laurence, found also in this form as a surname from 1541 (G. F. Black The Surnames of Scotland (1946) s.v. Laurence).]

a. (St. Lawrence' Fair, in mid-August, St. Lawrence' Day, properly 10th Aug.).(1) 1595 Breadalbane Lett. 27 Aug.
As to the meris thair was sex sauld at Sanct Lowrence fair 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 340.
Blood and batterrie committed be him … at Lowrance fair 1678(2) 1687 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II. i. 406 (29 Apr.).
[To pay … the sum of £60 at Whitsunday 1687, or at least £10 at] Lourence [day (being the 9 August) next]

b. As a name given to the fox.Occurring first in Henryson's Fables in place of the Continental and English Renard, Reynard. a1500 Henr. Fab. 421.
Ane foxe, craftie and cautelous, … This wylie tod, … Lowrence [B. Lourence] this saw, and in his mynd he kest [etc.] Ib. 461.
Quod schir Lowrence, ‘Weill said, [etc.]’ Ib. 676.
‘Na, selie Lowrence [B. Lowrance, H. Lawrence]’, quod the uolf Ib. 1231.
The foxe wes clerk … .Lowrence [B. Lawrence] the actis … wrait Ib. 2238. Ib. 2284, 6; etc.
‘Lowrence’ . quod he [the Wolf], ‘cum hidder of that schaw … ’; Lowrence come lourand for he lufit neuer licht 1528 Lynd. Dreme 895.
Lourence, -ans, -ance; (Id.) Bann. MS. 316 b/216, 8, 242, etc. For quhen the sleuthful hird dois … sleip, … Than Lupis cumis and Lowrance … And dois but reuth the sely scheip dounthring