Show ContentsLawson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Lawson family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name Law, which was a short form of Lawrence. 1 Baptismal names are a form of patronymic surnames, and come from religious and vernacular naming traditions. In this case, the surname Lawson was originally derived from the given name of the father of the bearer.

Early Origins of the Lawson family

The surname Lawson was first found in Yorkshire where some of the first records of the family were found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379: Willelmus Lauson, Henricus Laweson and Agnes Law-wyf. 2 "The patriarch of the family was John Lawson, who temp. Henry II. was lord of Fawlesgrave, Yorkshire and from him the existing Baronet is lineally descended." 3

Further to the north in Scotland, the name was also patronymic denoting "son of Lawrence." Early records include: "Richard Laurence of Byker of Lanarkshire who rendered homage to King Edward I in 1296; Richard Lawson, who was canon of St. Giles, Edinburgh, and laird of Grothill in 1370; John Lawson de Lyntoun, a tenant under Douglas in Linton in 1376; and Ady Lawsoun, a forestaller in Aberdeen in 1402. 4

Early History of the Lawson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lawson research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1554, 1576, 1610, 1615, 1630, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1664, 1665, 1674, 1679, 1688, 1691, 1711 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lawson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lawson Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Lawson include Lawson, Laweson and others.

Early Notables of the Lawson family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir Wilfred Lawson
  • Sir John Lawson (ca. 1615-1665), English Naval Officer
  • Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 1st Baronet, of Isel (c 1610-1688) was an English landowner and politician, Member of Parliament for Cumberland (1659-1661) and Cumberland (1660-1679)
  • Thomas Lawson (1630-1691), an English botanist and Quaker

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. 5 However, in Canada, the name Lawson is ranked the 539th most popular surname with an estimated 9,149 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Lawson is the 233rd popular surname with an estimated 14,644 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Lawson as 228th with 2,552 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Lawson as 244th with 24,500 people. 9

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.


Lawson migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Lawson were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Lawson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 10
  • Chri Lawson, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 10
  • Alice Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 10
  • Mr. Henry Lawson who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 11
  • Hugh Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 10
  • ... (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 10
  • Margaret Lawson, who landed in Virginia in 1702 10
  • John Lawson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 10
  • Rota Lawson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 10
  • Abraham Lawson, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 10
  • ... (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 10
  • Hugh Lawson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 10
  • Isabella Lawson, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812 10
  • James Lawson, aged 33, who landed in North Carolina in 1812 10
  • Andrew Lawson, aged 26, who landed in Tennessee in 1812 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 12
  • Ms. Elizabeth Lawson U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 12
  • Mr. John Lawson U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 12
  • ... (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 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 14
  • 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 15
  • 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 16
  • 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) 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 18
  • Susannah Lawson, aged 29, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 18
  • ... (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) +

  • James Morris Lawson Jr. (1928-2024), American activist and university professor
  • 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) 19
  • 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
  • ... (Another 16 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 20
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 21
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 22
  • Mr. Cecil Graham Lawson, British Lieutenant Commander, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 22
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Percy Lawson, English First Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23
  • Mr. Thomas Lawson, English Trimmer from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 23
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 24
  • 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 24
Victoria steamboat disaster


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. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. 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)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  8. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  12. 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
  13. 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)
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, April 2) Laurence Lawson. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Lawson/Laurence_Augustus/USA.html
  20. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  21. 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
  22. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  23. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  24. 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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