Contents [hide]

Lawry History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Lawry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Early Origins of the Lawry family

The surname Lawry was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area. "Laurieston in the parish of Balmaghie, stewartry of Kirkcudbright takes its name from William Kennedy Laurie, Esq., proprietor of the lands on which it is built, near Lochinbren, a sheet of water abounding with trout. " 1

There are two other places named Laurieston in Scotland: an ecclesiastical district, within the jurisdiction of the city of Glasgow; and in the parish of Falkirk, county of Stirlinge village. Of the former, we can find no notes about the origin; of the latter, it was derived from "the name of Laurencetoun, of which its present appellation is a contraction." 1

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Lawrence.' In the Lowlands and on the Borders, popularly Lowrie or Laurie, whence the many North English and Scottish variations of this name. " 2

"The name has been also explained, with still less probability; as from Scots lowrie, 'foxy'. The name of Gavin Lawrie, governor of New Jersey during the colonial period, is spelled in a letter quoted in The Haigs of Bemersyde as Lowry.' 3

"Hence 'Lowrie-like,' having the crafty look of a fox. The full name Lawrence was also applied to the fox, proving that Lowry and Lawry are the true offspring of the name." 2

Early History of the Lawry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lawry research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1640, 1653, 1669, 1671, 1677, 1683, 1686, 1687, 1755, 1770, 1771, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1779, 1820, 1827, 1836, 1839, 1861 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lawry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawry Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lawrie, Laurie, Larrie, Larry, Laurie, Laury, Lawry, Lowrie and many more.

Early Notables of the Lawry family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Sir Robert Laurie of Maxwelltown; Gawen Lawrie (died 1687), 2nd Deputy Governor of East New Jersey (1683-1686); Robert Laurie (died 1677), Church of Scotland prelate...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lawry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lawry family to Ireland

Some of the Lawry family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 118 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawry migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lawry Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alexander Lawry, who settled in Virginia in 1654
Robert Lawry, who landed in Virginia in 1663 4

Lawry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Lawry, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 4

Lawry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Lawry, aged 52, who arrived in Maine in 1812 4
Alex Lawry, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1839 4
J Lawry, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
N Lawry, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
Thomas G Lawry, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawry Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. William James Lawry, (b. 1866), aged 39, Cornish miner, from St Just, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th July 1905 en route to Jackson, California, USA 5
Mr. William Lewis Lawry, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish painter, from Redruth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Caronia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 30th August 1905 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA 5

Lawry migration to Australia +

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

Lawry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Lawry, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" 6
Richard Lawry, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Magdalena" 7
Richard Lawry, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Nile"
Miss Grace Lawry, (b. 1837), aged 19, Cornish general servant, from travelling aboard the ship "Kate" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 23rd December 1856 8
John Lawry, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Burlington"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lawry 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:

Lawry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Walter Lawry, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
H H Lawry, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1844
Rev. Walter Lawry, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Wesley" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th January 1852 9
Mrs. Gertrude Lawry, (b. 1816), aged 45, Cornish settler, born in Roche, Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 10
Mr. Walter Lawry, (b. 1817), aged 44, Cornish farmer, born in Roche, Cornwall travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lawry (post 1700) +

Otis Carroll Lawry (1893-1965), American professional baseball infielder
John Lawry (b. 1950), Christian musician, composer, producer, and songwriter
Michael Lawry, New Zealand rock musician
William Justus Lawry (b. 1940), former English cricketer
Frank Lawry (1844-1921), conservative then Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand
William Morris Lawry (b. 1937), Australian cricket player
Sir Walter Lawry Buller KCMG (1838-1906), New Zealand lawyer, naturalist and ornithologist

Historic Events for the Lawry family +

HMS Cornwall

Samuel John Lockhart Lawry, British Chaplain aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 11

The Lawry Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Repullulat
Motto Translation: It buds afresh.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RELIANCE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Reliance.htm
South Australian Register Friday 26th August 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdalena 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1853.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A