Lawrence
What is the origin of the last name Lawrence?
Meaning and origin
The last name Lawrence has its origin in medieval England, derived from the given name "Lawrence" which can be traced back to ancient Rome. The name was derived from the Latin name "Laurentius" meaning "from Laurentum," a city in Italy. "Laurentius" itself was derived from the Latin word "laurus" meaning "laurel." As a surname, Lawrence gained prominence during the Middle Ages and has since spread across various English-speaking countries, often having different spellings and adaptations in different regions.
The longer story
The surname Lawrence is related to the personal name "Laurentius," which originated in ancient Rome and means "man from Laurentum." Laurentum was an ancient city in Latium, Italy.
The name "Laurentius" was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It became a popular given name during the medieval period.
The surname Lawrence is derived from the given name "Laurentius." It is considered a patronymic surname, indicating that it was originally used to identify the descendants of a person named Lawrence.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#232
Lawrence was the 232nd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 129,699 people, about 44 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Lawrence
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Lawrence is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.