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Show ContentsLawson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Early Origins of the Lawson family

The surname Lawson was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Lawson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lawson research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Lawson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lawson, Laweson, McLawson, Maclawson and others.

Early Notables of the Lawson family

Notable amongst bearers of this family name during their early history was

  • Sir Wilfred Lawson

Lawson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lawson is the 200th most popular surname with an estimated 126,837 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Lawson is ranked the 539th most popular surname with an estimated 9,149 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Lawson is the 233rd popular surname with an estimated 14,644 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Lawson as 228th with 2,552 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Lawson as 244th with 24,500 people. 5

Ireland Migration of the Lawson family to Ireland

Some of the Lawson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Lawson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lawson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 6
  • Chri Lawson, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 6
  • Alice Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 6
  • Mr. Henry Lawson who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 7
  • Hugh Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lawson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Lawson, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1700 6
  • Margaret Lawson, who landed in Virginia in 1702 6
  • John Lawson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 6
  • Rota Lawson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 6
  • Abraham Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lawson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Lawson, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 6
  • Hugh Lawson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 6
  • Isabella Lawson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 6
  • James Lawson, aged 33, who landed in North Carolina in 1812 6
  • Andrew Lawson, aged 26, who landed in Tennessee in 1812 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Lawson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lawson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Lawson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • John Lawson, who arrived in Quebec in 1784
  • Ms. Elizabeth Lawson U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 she died in 1803 8
  • Ms. Elizabeth Lawson U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 8
  • Mr. John Lawson U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lawson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Matthew Lawson, who landed in Canada in 1830
  • James Lawson, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
  • Jennett Lawson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1835
  • Peter Lawson, who landed in Canada in 1840
  • Mrs. Catherine Lawson, aged 60 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Lawson migration to Australia +

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

Lawson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Lawson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Alexander Lawson, a joiner, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. James Lawson, (Wilson), Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 11
  • Miss Ann Lawson, (Gate), Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Daniel Lawson, British convict who was convicted in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Lawson 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:

Lawson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Lawson, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • John Lawson, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Joseph Lawson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Robert Lawson, aged 29, a gardener, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 14
  • Susannah Lawson, aged 29, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lawson Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century
  • Thomas Lawson, aged 36, a miner, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
  • Winifred Lawson, aged 9, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926
  • Norman Lawson, aged 6, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926

Contemporary Notables of the name Lawson (post 1700) +

  • Roger Hugh Lawson Jr. (1941-2024), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (2008-2024)
  • Lee Lawson (1941-2022), American actress, best known for her roles in Guiding Light (1952), Kojak (1973) and One Life to Live (1968)
  • Janet Lawson (1940-2021), born Janet Ann Polun, American jazz singer and educator from Baltimore, Maryland
  • Andrew Cowper Lawson (1861-1952), American professor of geology at the University of California, Berkeley
  • Alfred William Lawson (1869-1954), American professional baseball player, pioneer in the aircraft industry, founder of the Lawson Airplane Company, creator of Lawsonomy, an early health practice that included vegetarianism
  • Brigadier-General Laurence Augustus Lawson (1896-1951), American Commandant of the Army Air Force Training School (1942-1945) 15
  • Eddie Lawson (b. 1958), American former four-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion
  • Ernest Lawson, American/Canadian painter and a member of The Eight
  • John Howard Lawson (1894-1977), American writer
  • Frederick Ian Allison Lawson (1939-2024), English professional footballer
  • ... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. James Neil Lawson (1920-1941), Australian Supply Assistant from Sunshine, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 16
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Jack Lawson (b. 1920), English Cook (S) serving for the Royal Navy from Leeds, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 17
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Harold Fergusson Lawson, British Commander, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 18
  • Mr. Cecil Graham Lawson, British Lieutenant Commander, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 18
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Percy Lawson, English First Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 19
  • Mr. Thomas Lawson, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 19
St. Francis Dam
  • Mr. Andrew Lawson, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
USS Arizona
  • Mr. James L. Lawson, American Gunner's Mate Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 20
  • Mr. Leonard G. Lawson, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 20
Victoria steamboat disaster
  • Elosia Lawson, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

The Lawson 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: Leve et reluis
Motto Translation: Arise and re-illumine.

Suggested Readings for the name Lawson +

  • The Descendants of John Henry Lawson by Mona Gee Lawson.
  • The Lawson Golden Book by Virginia Ruth Lawson Trent.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. 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)
  7. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  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
  9. 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. 39)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Laurence Lawson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lawson/Laurence_Augustus/USA.html
  16. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  17. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  18. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  19. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  20. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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