NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawer

English surname derived from Anglo-Norman French referring to someone in charge of forestland.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Lawer surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, down from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Halifax and Newlyn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawer is 208 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.9%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

2010

208 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lawer had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 190 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lawer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawer 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 190 #15,486
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 143 #18,401
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 165 #20,423
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 173 #20,043
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 168 #20,300
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 208 #18,956
2011 modern 190 #19,942
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 193 #20,159
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Lawers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Halifax, Newlyn, St Columb Minor and St Blazey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Newlyn Cornwall
4 St Columb Minor Cornwall
5 St Blazey Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 017 Neath Port Talbot
2 Cornwall 031 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 049 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lawer, 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 Lawer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lawer 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lawer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lawer is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lawer 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 Lawer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lawer

The surname Lawer is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "laghweard," which means "guardian of the law." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have held positions related to law enforcement or legal administration.

The earliest known record of the Lawer surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of documents from the late 13th century that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Lauar" and "Lauuer."

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as "Lawir," "Lawyr," and "Lawer" becoming more common. These spellings likely reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes.

In the 15th century, a notable figure bearing the Lawer surname was John Lawer, a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Brechin from 1454 to 1465. He was known for his involvement in ecclesiastical affairs and his role in mediating disputes between the Church and the Scottish nobility.

During the 16th century, the name Lawer appeared in various records throughout Scotland, including legal documents and parish registers. One prominent individual was Robert Lawer (c. 1535-1607), a Scottish scholar and poet who served as the Principal of King's College at the University of Aberdeen.

In the 17th century, the Lawer surname gained recognition in Scotland's literary circles. James Lawer (1610-1676) was a Scottish poet and playwright whose works included the tragedy "The Marchant's Tragedy" and the collection "Poetical Recreations."

Another notable figure from this period was Sir John Lawer (1625-1688), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1677 to 1688. He played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of the time and was known for his defense of the rule of law.

As the centuries progressed, the Lawer surname continued to be associated with various professions, including law, academia, and the arts. While not as numerous as some other Scottish surnames, it has maintained a presence in Scotland and beyond, with descendants bearing the name residing in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawer 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. Cornwall leads with 57 Lawers recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.28x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 57 45.28x
Middlesex 11 0.99x
Durham 9 2.72x
Yorkshire 9 0.82x
Kent 8 2.11x
Warwickshire 5 1.78x
Lancashire 3 0.23x
Surrey 3 0.55x
Devon 2 0.86x
Staffordshire 2 0.53x
Berkshire 1 1.20x
Cumberland 1 1.04x
Somerset 1 0.56x
Sussex 1 0.53x
Westmorland 1 4.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newlyn in Cornwall leads with 25 Lawers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4629.63x.

Place Total Index
Newlyn 25 4629.63x
St Blazey 12 1081.08x
St Clement 9 687.02x
Chelsea London 8 23.88x
Stranton 8 71.81x
Canterbury St Gregory 7 1400.00x
Stansfield 7 172.84x
Meriden 5 1562.50x
Probus 4 769.23x
Redruth 4 112.36x
Bromley London 2 8.18x
Great Bookham 2 476.19x
Manchester 2 3.37x
Cubert 1 714.29x
Eastbourne 1 11.59x
Holy Trinity 1 3.77x
Hulme 1 3.63x
Kensington London 1 1.62x
Lichfield St Mary 1 92.59x
Milbourne 1 1111.11x
Minster In Sheppey 1 15.92x
Ousby 1 1111.11x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 5.61x
Rotherhithe 1 7.28x
Sandhurst 1 61.73x
St Columb Major 1 96.15x
Stoke Damerel 1 6.17x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.51x
Sutton 1 79.37x
Truro St Mary 1 94.34x
Woodland 1 454.55x
Wootton Courtney 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 8
James 6
Simon 4
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Henry 2
Reuben 2
Anthony 1
Charles 1
George 1
Percey 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lawer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Lawer surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Lawer a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Lawer surname mean?

English surname derived from Anglo-Norman French referring to someone in charge of forestland.

What does the Lawer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lawer 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.