Show ContentsLorian History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Lorian originates in Normandy where records show Henricus Loherene was listed there in 1180. It is derived from the Old French "le Lohereng," meaning "the man from Lorraine." Other records show the fief of Lauraine, Normandy 1180-95. 1

Early Origins of the Lorian family

The surname Lorian was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where Albert de Loraine (Lothariensis) was listed as a Baron in this county and Hereford in 1086. Roger Loering was later listed in Bedfordshire in 1165. Geoffrey le Lohareng was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1158-59 and Dauit le Loreng was listed in the Feet of Fines of Norfolk in 1197. 2

A few years later, Thomas Loring was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1280. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 revealed more listings of the name: Peter de Loring in Bedfordshire; and John le Loring in Oxfordshire. Kirby's Quest, another census a the time of King Edward III (1312 -1377) listed Alice Loring and Emma Loring both in Somerset. 3

"At Beaworthy, [Devon] a park was made about 1366 by Sir Nigel Loring, one of the first Knights of the Garter." 4

In the same century, the name was also found in Scotland where Eustace de Lorreyne was a Commissioner, at Berwick on Tweed in 1333. 5 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's historical novel "Sir Nigel" first chapter is entitled "The House of Loring."

Early History of the Lorian family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lorian research. Another 413 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1340, 1342, 1359, 1365, 1386, 1566 and 1628 are included under the topic Early Lorian History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorian Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Loring, Loreing, Lorring, Lorin, Lorrin and others.

Early Notables of the Lorian family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lorian Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Lorian migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Lorian Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Lorian, (Franks), English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  4. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza


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