Laidlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Laidlow was first used as a surname by the descendents of the Boernician clans of Scotland. The Laidlow family lived in Selkirk (now part of the region of Borders). "This place, which is of considerable antiquity, derives its name, in the Celtic tongue signifying 'the Church in the forest,' from the ancient state of the surrounding district, which was thickly covered with wood and appropriated as a royal chase." 1

They moved there from Laidlawstiel in Galashiels; however, it seems likely that Laidlawstiel was named after the family, not vice versa.

Early Origins of the Laidlow family

The surname Laidlow was first found in Selkirk, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

"There is a tradition that the Laidlaws had their origin in England, and the name has been traced over the Border down to the south of England under the variants Laidlaw, Laidley, Laidler, Ladly, and Ludlow. William of Lodelawe was charged in 1296 with concealing a horse from the English." 2

Early History of the Laidlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laidlow research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1585, 1590, 1603, 1644, 1650, 1674, 1682, 1780, 1801, 1817 and 1845 are included under the topic Early Laidlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laidlow Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages simply spelled according to sound. The result is an enormous number of spelling variations among names that evolved in that era. Laidlow has been spelled Laidlaw, Laidlay, Laidler, Laidley, Ladlyle and others.

Early Notables of the Laidlow family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was William Laidlaw (1780-1845), friend of Sir Walter Scott, was born 19 Nov. 1780, at Blackhouse, Selkirkshire, where his father was a sheep-farmer. In 1801...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Laidlow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laidlow migration to the United States +

Most of the Boernician-Scottish families who came to North America settled on the eastern seaboard of what would become the United States and Canada. Families who wanted a new order stayed south in the War of Independence, while those who were still loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, the ancestors of these families have gone on to rediscover their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Laidlow or a variant listed above:

Laidlow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

David Laidlow, aged 30, who landed in America from Thornton, Scotland, in 1907
Ed. Laidlow, aged 28, who settled in America from Kingston, Jamaica, in 1910
Mary Laidlow, aged 13, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1911
Berth Laidlow, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1911
Henry Laidlow, who immigrated to the United States from England, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Laidlow migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Laidlow Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Annie Laidlow, aged 32, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1910
Margaret Laidlow, aged 29, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1910
Mary Laidlow, aged 30, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1913
Frances L.K. Laidlow, aged 60, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1913

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)