Lawrence Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Lawrence last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Lawrence coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Lawrence last name
Meaning of the Lawrence last name: from Laurentius, "man of Laurentum". Lawrence comes from the Latin personal name Laurentius, "man of Laurentum", a town near Rome. Its popularity rests on Saint Lawrence, the deacon martyred in Rome in 258, whose cult spread through medieval Europe. As a first name it was common in England from the 12th century and became a surname in many counties. Famous bearers include the painter Thomas Lawrence and T. E. Lawrence, "of Arabia". Saint Lawrence was said to have been roasted on a gridiron, and churches dedicated to him were built across England, Italy and Spain. Medieval English records show the name in many spellings, including Laurence, Lorance and Larence, and the pet forms Law, Lowry and Larkin also became surnames. The name was carried early to Virginia, Maryland and New England, and it is now common throughout the English-speaking world.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Lawrence name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Lawrence name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Lawrence family history
Your full Lawrence pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Lawrence coat of arms for you.
Lawrence name FAQ
What does the Lawrence name mean?
From Laurentius, "man of Laurentum". Common variants include Laurence, Lawrance, Lorenz.
Where does the Lawrence surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Lawrence coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Lawrence crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Lawrence coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.