Contents [hide]

Lawton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Lawton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Lawton first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the village of Lawton which was in both Cheshire and Herefordshire. This place-name was originally derived from the Old English words hlaw tun, which means that the original bearers of the surname lived in the farm that was located on the hill.

Early Origins of the Lawton family

The surname Lawton was first found in Cheshire where the parish named Laughton dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Lestone 1. Church Lawton is a small village and civil parish in Cheshire East and was recorded in the Domesday Book as Lautune. There are at least three other listings of places now named Laughton in the Domesday Book: Lachestone in Leicester, Lastone in Yorkshire and finally Loctone in Lincolnshire. The latter is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "loc" + "tun" and meant "enclosure that can be locked" 2

The parish of Lowton in Lancashire "gave name to a family who subsequently adopted the surname of Kenyon from their possessions in a neighbouring township." 3

Lorton is a parish, in the union of Cockermouth, Allerdale ward above Derwent in Cumberland. It comprises two small villages Low Lorton and High Lorton and dates back to c. 1150 when it was known as Loretona. It probably meant "farmstead on a stream called Hlora" from the Viking river name meaning "roaring one" + and the Old English word "tun." 2

Early History of the Lawton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lawton research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1660, 1670, 1693, 1721 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Lawton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawton Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Lawton has appeared include Lawton, Laughton, Loughmane and others.

Early Notables of the Lawton family

Distinguished members of the family include

Charlwood Lawton (1660-1721), English lawyer and author of "A short State of our Condition, with Relation to the present Parliament" (1693)...

Lawton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lawton is the 2,563^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 4 However, in New Zealand, the name Lawton is ranked the 938^th most popular surname with an estimated 794 people with that name. 5 And in the United Kingdom, the name Lawton is the 642^nd popular surname with an estimated 10,203 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Lawton family to Ireland

Some of the Lawton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawton migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Lawton arrived in North America very early:

Lawton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henrey Lawton, (Lacton), aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 7
Eliza Lawton, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 8
George Lawton (1607-1693), who settled in Newport, Rhode Island in 1637 from Cranfield, Bedfordshire, one of 16 prominent citizens whose counsel was sought during King Phillips War
Thomas Lawton, who settled in Virginia in 1651
Elizabeth Lawton, aged 21, who landed in Virginia in 1684 8

Lawton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Lawton, who landed in America in 1760-1763 8
Joseph Lawton, who settled in Maryland in 1774

Lawton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Lawton, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 8
Charles Lawton, aged 37, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1838 8
Matthew Lawton, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1843 8
Thomas Lawton, who arrived in Mississippi in 1843 8
Mary Lawton, who arrived in New York in 1844 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lawton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Isaac Lawton U.E. (b. 1730) who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1810 9
Mr. JamesLawton U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
Mr. John Lawton U.E. (b. 1757) born in Philadelphia, USA who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 he died in 1846 9
Mrs. Mary Lawton U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
Mr. Thomas Lawton U.E. born in Rhode Island, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hugh Lawton, aged 35, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland
Miss. Elizabeth Lawton, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing 13th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th June 1847 but she died on board 10
Miss. Sarah Lawton, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Odessa" departing 9th June 1847 from Dublin, Ireland; the ship arrived on 9th August 1847 but she died on board 10

Lawton migration to Australia +

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

Lawton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Lawton, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. William Lawton, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. Henry Lawton who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. John Lawton, British Convict who was convicted in Derbyshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 13
Mr. John Lawton who was convicted in Knutsford (Nether Knutsford), Cheshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Lawton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Lawton, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Edward Lawton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Morning Star" in 1861
Harriet Lawton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Morning Star" in 1861
Frederick Lawton, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1870
Amos Lawton, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15

Lawton Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Alexander Lawton, who settled in St. Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1716

Contemporary Notables of the name Lawton (post 1700) +

Lieutenant-General William Stevens Lawton (1900-1993), American Comptroller, Department of the Army (1957-1960) 16
Lieutenant-General Samuel Tilden Lawton (1884-1961), American Member War Department Dependency Board (1944-1945) 17
Scott Lawton (b. 1960), American conductor
Matthew "Matt" Lawton (b. 1971), American Major League Baseball player
Jonathan Frederick "J. F." Lawton (b. 1960), American writer, producer and director
Henry Ware Lawton (1843-1899), US Army officer, Medal of Honor recipient
Harry Wilson Lawton (1927-2005), American author and novelist
Ben Redmond Lawton (1922-1987), American surgeon and healthcare reformer, President of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents (1984 to 1986)
April Lawton (1948-2006), American guitarist, singer, and composer
Alexander Lawton (1818-1896), American division commander in the American Civil War
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Lawton family +

HMS Halsted

Mr. John William Lawton (b. 1921), British Royal Navy able seaman from Nottinghamshire, England was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John Lawton, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 18

SS Alcoa Puritan

J.D. Lawton, American from Ridgeland, South Carolina, who was travelling aboard the SS Alcoa Puritan having been rescued from a prior torpedoed ship, when the SS Alcoa Purtian (1942) was torpedoed by U-boat U-507; he survived the sinking 19

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 83)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) William Lawton. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lawton/William_Stevens/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Samuel Lawton. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lawton/Samuel_Tilden/USA.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Alcoa_Puritan_(1941) - (Retrieved 2018, February 8th)