UK surname
A locational surname denoting someone from Lawson, a place in England.
In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Lauson surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #21,808 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Minster, Toxteth Park and Dumfries. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lauson is 189 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 91.6%.
1881 census count
83
Ranked #21,808
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
189 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lauson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lauson surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 50 | #24,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 83 | #21,808 |
| 1891 | historical | 189 | #15,547 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 136 | #18,962 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Minster, Toxteth Park, Dumfries, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minster | Kent |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Dumfries | Dumfries |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lauson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lauson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lauson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lauson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lauson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lauson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lauson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lauson has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "laus," meaning "praise" or "renown," and the suffix "-un," which denoted a diminutive form. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone of small stature or a child who was praised or renowned.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lauson surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Lausun." This historical document recorded landholders and property owners in various counties across England. The name's appearance in these rolls indicates that bearers of the Lauson surname were established in parts of England during this time.
In the 14th century, the surname is documented in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it is spelled "Laweson." This variation in spelling was common during this era, as standardized spellings were not widely adopted until later centuries.
The Lauson surname has also been linked to several place names in England, such as Lawson Park in Yorkshire and Lawson's Farm in Derbyshire. These places may have derived their names from individuals bearing the Lauson surname who resided or owned land in those areas.
One notable figure in history with the Lauson surname was Sir Wilfred Lawson (1829-1906), a British politician and temperance advocate. He was a member of Parliament and actively campaigned for the prohibition of alcohol. Another individual of note was Cecil Lawson (1851-1882), a British painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes.
Other historical figures bearing the Lauson surname include William Lawson (1585-1659), an English explorer and author who wrote about his travels in North America, and Thomas Lawson (1630-1691), an English Baptist minister and writer who lived in Boston, Massachusetts.
In the literary world, Henry Lawson (1867-1922) was an Australian writer and poet renowned for his short stories and poems depicting the harsh realities of life in the Australian outback.
These examples illustrate the widespread distribution and historical significance of the Lauson surname across various fields and regions, reflecting its enduring legacy over centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lauson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 13 Lausons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.27x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 13 | 12.27x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.28x |
| Cambridgeshire | 6 | 13.31x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 4.84x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 5.27x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 2.17x |
| Isle of Man | 4 | 30.26x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.56x |
| Durham | 3 | 1.42x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.13x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.24x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.25x |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 | 3.03x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.24x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.58x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.04x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.83x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tynemouth in Northumberland leads with 7 Lausons recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tynemouth | 7 | 123.46x |
| Bothal Demesne | 6 | 1176.47x |
| Little Gransden | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Penarth | 6 | 495.87x |
| Govan | 5 | 8.78x |
| St Botolph Lincoln | 5 | 609.76x |
| Arbory | 4 | 1379.31x |
| Chatham | 3 | 44.91x |
| Heeley | 3 | 140.19x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 16.23x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 2 | 16.21x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 11.79x |
| Huyton With Roby | 2 | 202.02x |
| Norton | 2 | 256.41x |
| Rathmell | 2 | 4000.00x |
| St Martin In Fields | 2 | 46.95x |
| West Ham | 2 | 6.45x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.66x |
| Clapham | 1 | 11.24x |
| Darlington | 1 | 12.22x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 33.44x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 1 | 22.03x |
| Hodsock | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.61x |
| Leyton | 1 | 41.32x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 8.94x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 14.93x |
| St Martin Lincoln | 1 | 94.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lauson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lauson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Lauson surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Lauson a modern rank of #37,967.
A locational surname denoting someone from Lawson, a place in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lauson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.