NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawe

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "hill" or "mound".

In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Lawe surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #16,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Wychavon and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawe is 545 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.1%.

1881 census count

136

Ranked #16,433

Modern count

91

2016, ranked #32,109

Peak year

1891

545 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Lawe had 136 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016, ranked #32,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 545 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lawe surname distribution map

The map shows where the Lawe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Lawe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawe over time

The 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 375 #6,361
1861 historical 539 #4,868
1881 historical 136 #16,433
1891 historical 545 #6,931
1901 historical 327 #10,966
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 88 #29,131
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 88 #29,284
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 92 #32,132
2015 modern 91 #32,153
2016 modern 91 #32,109

Geography

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Where Lawes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, Edinburgh, Manchester, Prescot and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Wychavon and Liverpool. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Prescot Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 004 Boston
2 Wychavon 012 Wychavon
3 Boston 001 Boston
4 Boston 008 Boston
5 Liverpool 040 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawe

These lists show first names that appear often with the Lawe surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lawe, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Lawe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lawe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lawe is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lawe is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lawe falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lawe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lawe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lawe

The surname Lawe has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lawe," meaning a hill or mound. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near or on a hill.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are recorded instances of the name Lawe, spelled as "La Lawe" or "De La Lawe," indicating that it was a place name at the time. The prefix "de" or "de la" was commonly used to denote someone's place of origin.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Lawe was John de la Lawe, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1202. Another early record is of Robert de la Lawe, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

In the 14th century, the surname Lawe appeared in various spellings, such as Lawes, Laus, and Lause, reflecting the phonetic variations common in medieval times. One notable individual from this period was William Laus, a member of the English Parliament who represented Worcestershire in 1322.

During the 16th century, the surname Lawe was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One prominent figure was Sir Robert Lawe, a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London, who lived from 1532 to 1607.

In the 17th century, the surname Lawe was sometimes associated with place names like Lawford in Essex and Lawshall in Suffolk. John Lawe, born in 1624, was a notable clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London.

The 18th century saw individuals with the surname Lawe residing in various parts of England, including London, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. One noteworthy individual was Samuel Lawe, a prominent merchant and landowner in Bristol, who lived from 1708 to 1786.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Lawe continued to be found across different regions of England, with variations in spelling such as Law, Lawes, and Lowe also emerging. Individuals with this name contributed to various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 22 Lawes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 1.63x
Yorkshire 18 1.35x
Lancashire 16 1.00x
Lincolnshire 16 7.43x
Hampshire 9 3.26x
Lanarkshire 9 2.07x
Surrey 8 1.22x
Westmorland 8 27.04x
Staffordshire 7 1.54x
Cumberland 4 3.45x
Devon 4 1.43x
Aberdeenshire 3 2.41x
Channel Islands 2 5.01x
Kent 2 0.44x
Suffolk 2 1.22x
Sussex 2 0.88x
Berkshire 1 0.99x
Durham 1 0.25x
Essex 1 0.38x
Leicestershire 1 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.55x
Somerset 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 9 Lawes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.64x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 9 11.64x
Grasby 9 4736.84x
Kirkby Lonsdale 7 875.00x
Preston 7 16.38x
Alverstoke 6 60.06x
Bonby 6 3157.89x
Kingswinford 6 36.36x
St Marylebone London 6 8.35x
Carshalton 5 199.20x
Doncaster 5 51.28x
Openshaw 5 66.84x
Brightside Bierlow 4 15.29x
Penrith 4 93.46x
Islington London 3 2.30x
Leeds 3 3.98x
St Olave Old Jewry London 3 10000.00x
Whitechapel London 3 22.61x
Brighton 2 4.37x
Coates 2 4000.00x
Enfield 2 22.65x
Hunslet 2 9.62x
Kensington London 2 2.67x
Southampton St Mary 2 11.53x
Southwold 2 206.19x
Walton Le Dale 2 46.62x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 4.29x
Andover 1 38.31x
Anlaby 1 344.83x
Appleby 1 400.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 7.88x
Brixham 1 30.77x
Camberwell 1 1.16x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 20.88x
Crompton 1 21.98x
Keithhall 1 243.90x
Lambeth 1 0.85x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 17.64x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 42.19x
Milton In Gravesend 1 14.51x
Newark Upon Trent 1 15.34x
Okehampton 1 94.34x
Paddington London 1 2.02x
Peterhead 1 15.17x
Plymouth Charles The 1 8.10x
Raby Keverstone 1 769.23x
Rotherhithe 1 6.01x
Shinfield 1 169.49x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.22x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 87.72x
St Martin 1 40.98x
St Peter Port 1 13.55x
Stone 1 17.21x
Syston 1 71.43x
Tormoham 1 8.43x
Undermilbeck 1 102.04x
Walthamstow 1 10.46x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lawe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 6
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annatte 1
Anne 1
Carry 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Eliza. 1
Elizabath 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Pricilla 1
Rebekah 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Tabitha 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lawe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 10
William 8
Thomas 5
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Charles 2
David 2
Edwin 2
George 2
James 2
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Leonard 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Peir 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.F. 1

FAQ

Lawe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Lawe surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Lawe a modern rank of #32,109.

What does the Lawe surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "hill" or "mound".

What does the Lawe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lawe bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.