Contents [hide]

Laidlaw History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Laidlaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Laidlaw family

The surname Laidlaw was first found in Selkirk 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 Laidlaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laidlaw research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1590 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Laidlaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laidlaw Spelling Variations

The name Laidlaw, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Laidlaw, Laidlay, Laidler, Laidley, Ladlyle and others.

Early Notables of the Laidlaw family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Laidlaw of Selkirk

Laidlaw migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Laidlaw family, or who bore a variation of the surname Laidlaw were

Laidlaw Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

David Laidlaw, an "emigrant in bondage," who arrived in America in 1750

Laidlaw Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Laidlaw, who landed in America in 1820 1
John Laidlaw, who arrived in New York in 1820 1
Alexander Laidlaw, who settled in Philadelphia in 1849

Laidlaw migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Laidlaw Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Douglas Laidlaw, who arrived in Canda in 1790

Laidlaw migration to Australia +

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

Laidlaw Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Laidlaw, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Palmyra" in 1839 2
William Laidlaw, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Amazon" 3
John Laidlaw, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 4
Walter Laidlaw, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 4
Thomas Laidlaw, aged 35, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Schah Jehan"

Laidlaw 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:

Laidlaw Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Laidlaw, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Bruce" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th September 1860 5
Mrs. Laidlaw, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Bruce" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th September 1860 5
Child Laidlaw, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Bruce" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 12th September 1860 5
Mr. William Laidlaw, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 30th July 1861 6
Mrs. Laidlaw, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 30th July 1861 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Laidlaw (post 1700) +

Marc Laidlaw (b. 1960), American writer of science fiction and horror
Robert Scott Laidlaw (b. 1953), former American NFL running back who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants
Ethan Laidlaw (1899-1963), American film actor who appeared in more than 350 films between 1923 and 1962
William Grant Laidlaw (1840-1908), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from New York 34th District, 1887-91 7
William A. Laidlaw, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from St. Lawrence County 1st District, 1922-24 7
Michael Laidlaw, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2004 7
Joseph Daniel "Joe" Laidlaw (1950-2021), English professional footballer who played 514 matches as a midfielder for six league clubs over a 15-year period
John Laidlaw (b. 1936), English former footballer
Henry Renton Laidlaw (1939-2021), British golf broadcaster and journalist, born in Morningside, Edinburgh
William Laidlaw (1780-1847), close friend of Sir Walter Scott, he and another close friend transcribed from Scott's dictation most of "Bride of Lammermoor", "The Legend of Montose" and nearly all of "Ivanhoe"
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PALMYRA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Palmyra.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) AMAZON 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/amazon1852.shtml
South Australian Register Thursday 23rd November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Dirigo 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.shtml
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
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html