Contents [hide]

Lawler History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Lawler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The origins of the distinguished surname Lawler are somewhat obscure. The name is most likely related to the Middle Dutch word "lollaerd," meaning "babbler of nonsense"; alternatively, it is possible that the name is connected to the early Middle English word "lollere," meaning "mumbler," a name applied to a pious person. "Lawler" was substituted in the 14th century for "Lollard" as a description of the followers of John Wyclif, an English Bible translator who was condemned as a heretic. 1

Early Origins of the Lawler family

The surname Lawler was first found in East England, where the name is thought to have originated. The first known bearer of the name was Elfred le Lollere, who was recorded in the Cartularium Monasterii de Rameseia of Huntingdonshire in 1133. 1

Early History of the Lawler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lawler research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1133, 1279, 1322, 1790, 1808, 1821 and 1827 are included under the topic Early Lawler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawler Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lollar, Loller, Lawler, Lawlor, Lawlar, Lollard and many more.

Early Notables of the Lawler family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lawler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawler Ranking

In the United States, the name Lawler is the 2,213^rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Lawler is ranked the 839^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,691 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Lawler family to Ireland

Some of the Lawler family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawler migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lawler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza Lawler, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 4
Margaret Lawler, who settled in Maryland in 1741
Darby Lawler, who settled in Boston in 1766 along with Betsy
William Lawler, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1768 4

Lawler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patrick Lawler, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 4
Michael Lawler, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County Pennsylvania in 1840 4
Edward Lawler, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 4
Mathew C Lawler, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1849 4
H Lawler, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lawler Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Elis Lawler, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Michael Lawler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Michael Lawler, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752

Lawler Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Lawler, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1820
John Lawler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1829
William Lawler, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1829
Thomas Lawler, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1832
Sarah Lawler, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawler migration to Australia +

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

Lawler Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss. Mary Lawler, Irish convict who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Michael Lawler, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Francis Lawler, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Patrick Lawler, (b. 1812), aged 24, Irish groom who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1843 8
Mr. John Lawler, Jr., (b. 1812), aged 24, Irish stone cutter who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for life for house robbery, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1865 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawler 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:

Lawler Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Lawler, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 9
Mrs. Lawler, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 9
H C Lawler, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
Patrick James Lawler, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
Esther Therese Lawler, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maori" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lawler (post 1700) +

Peter Augustine Lawler (1951-2017), American political scientist, Dana Professor of Government at Berry College
Ralph Anthony Lawler (b. 1938), American television and radio voice of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers
Michael Kelly Lawler (1814-1882), Irish-born, American brigadier general in the United States Army in both the Mexican War and the Civil War
Gregory Francis Lawler (b. 1955), American mathematician, best known for his work since 2000 on the Schramm-Loewner evolution
Jerry O'Neil Lawler (b. 1949), American professional wrestler
John Jeremiah Lawler (1862-1948), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rapid City (1916 to 1948)
John Arthur Lawler (b. 1912), American aeronautical engineer
John B. Lawler, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 11 aerial victories
Rod Lawler (b. 1971), English professional snooker player, nicknamed "Rod the Plod"
Elaine Lawler (b. 1973), English Queen in Ghana in 2006
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Lawler family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Philip Lawler (1856-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 10
Mr. Herbert Lawler (1899-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 10
Mrs. Ellen Lawler (1867-1914), née Grathwaite Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 10

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Neil Charles Lawler (1921-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 11

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"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 Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp