Show ContentsMacLawrence History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname MacLawrence came from the name Lawrence. This name is in turn derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which literally means man from Laurentium, a town in Italy named for its laurels or bay trees. The popularity of this name in medieval Europe is due to the exploits of a saint who was martyred at Rome in the 3rd century.

Early Origins of the MacLawrence family

The surname MacLawrence was first found in Lancashire at Yealand-Redmayne, a township, in the parish of Warton, union of Lancaster, hundred of Lonsdale south of the Sands. "Yealand Hall, an ancient dwelling at Yealand-Storrs in the township, seems to have been possessed in the reign of Henry VIII. by the family of Lawrence, who held the manor of "Yeland-Redmayn" as of the manor of Warton." 1

Early History of the MacLawrence family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacLawrence research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1252, 1598, 1614, 1618, 1635, 1657, 1664, 1665, 1672, 1674, 1691, 1692 and 1699 are included under the topic Early MacLawrence History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLawrence Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. MacLawrence has been recorded under many different variations, including Lawrence, Laurence, Lawerence, Lawrance and many more.

Early Notables of the MacLawrence family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Laurence (1598-1657), an English churchman and academic, at the age of 16 he attended Balliol College, Oxford (1614); Sir John Lawrence (died 1692), an English merchant and politician, Lord...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacLawrence Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacLawrence family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name MacLawrence or a variant listed above: George and Elizabeth Lawrance, who settled in Virginia in 1641; Anne and John Lawrence settled in Virginia with their seven children in 1676; Ben, Edward, Elizabeth, J.R. John, Joseph, Lewis, Mary, Phillip, Thomas, and William Lawrence, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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