UK surname
A variant spelling of the surname Lauder, of Scottish origin referring to a person from Lauder.
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Lawder surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 47, ranked #35,069, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newcastle All Saints and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawder is 121 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.6%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
47
2016, ranked #35,069
Peak year
1851
121 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lawder surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lawder surname density by area, 1861 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 | 121 | #15,049 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 34 | #34,528 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 31 | #35,260 |
| 2006 | modern | 42 | #34,714 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 45 | #35,112 |
| 2012 | modern | 46 | #35,053 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
| 2016 | modern | 47 | #35,069 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newcastle All Saints, Edinburgh and Manchester. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lawder 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 Lawder, 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 Lawder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lawder 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, Lawder 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 Lawder is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lawder, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LAWDER has its origins in the ancient Scottish-English Borderlands, where it first emerged in the 13th century. It is believed to be a toponymic name derived from the Old English words "hlaw" meaning a low hill or mound, and "dere" meaning a hollow or valley, indicating that the earliest bearers lived in a hilly or undulating area.
One of the earliest recorded variations of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "William de Laweder" suggests the name was initially rendered with a "d" instead of the modern "r" ending.
By the 14th century, the LAWDER surname had spread across various regions of Scotland and Northern England. In 1379, a John Lawdre is mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, indicating the name's presence in official records of the time.
The LAWDER name is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, Robert Lawder (1533-1605) was a prominent Scottish clergyman who served as the Minister of Perth and played a role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.
Another significant figure bearing the LAWDER name was Sir John Lawder (1671-1737), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1727 to 1729. He was instrumental in the city's growth and development during his tenure.
In the 18th century, Alexander Lawder (1745-1821) was a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh and the Advocate's Close.
Moving into the 19th century, James Lawder (1837-1901) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow. He funded the construction of the Lawder Memorial Hall, a community center that served the local population.
Lastly, in the 20th century, Sir Robert Lawder (1913-1997) was a Scottish politician and diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to Italy from 1968 to 1972 and had a long and distinguished career in public service.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawder 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Lawders recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 3.34x |
| Durham | 6 | 4.81x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.21x |
| Perthshire | 6 | 31.88x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 7.12x |
| Inverness-shire | 2 | 15.97x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 8.05x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 12.84x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.70x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Lawders recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.03x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington London | 7 | 30.03x |
| Rattray | 6 | 1363.64x |
| Westoe | 5 | 70.72x |
| Salford | 4 | 27.34x |
| South Leith | 4 | 63.29x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 30.30x |
| Manchester | 2 | 8.94x |
| Trumisgarry | 2 | 1538.46x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.91x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.73x |
| Ealing | 1 | 26.67x |
| Maughold | 1 | 166.67x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 6.49x |
| St Helier | 1 | 24.75x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.47x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.96x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 19.38x |
| Winlaton | 1 | 83.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lawder 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 Lawder surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Lawder surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 47 in 2016. That gives Lawder a modern rank of #35,069.
A variant spelling of the surname Lauder, of Scottish origin referring to a person from Lauder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lawder 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.