NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawler

An Irish occupational surname referring to a merchant, landlord, or law enforcer.

In the 1881 census there were 1,343 people recorded with the Lawler surname, ranking it #3,050 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,352, ranked #2,782, up from #3,050 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Salford and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawler is 2,522 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.1%.

1881 census count

1,343

Ranked #3,050

Modern count

2,352

2016, ranked #2,782

Peak year

2010

2,522 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lawler had 1,343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,050 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,352 in 2016, ranked #2,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,605 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lawler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawler surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawler 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 589 #4,340
1861 historical 707 #3,831
1881 historical 1,343 #3,050
1891 historical 1,384 #3,140
1901 historical 1,580 #3,265
1911 historical 1,605 #3,028
1997 modern 2,219 #2,799
1998 modern 2,330 #2,774
1999 modern 2,356 #2,769
2000 modern 2,349 #2,761
2001 modern 2,262 #2,793
2002 modern 2,370 #2,734
2003 modern 2,300 #2,755
2004 modern 2,297 #2,752
2005 modern 2,310 #2,713
2006 modern 2,298 #2,725
2007 modern 2,317 #2,736
2008 modern 2,375 #2,692
2009 modern 2,448 #2,687
2010 modern 2,522 #2,675
2011 modern 2,482 #2,688
2012 modern 2,358 #2,752
2013 modern 2,397 #2,760
2014 modern 2,404 #2,764
2015 modern 2,371 #2,772
2016 modern 2,352 #2,782

Geography

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Where Lawlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Salford, Knowsley, Newcastle-under-Lyme 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 005 Selby
2 Salford 016 Salford
3 Knowsley 008 Knowsley
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Liverpool 044 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawler

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Lawler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lawler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lawler is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lawler is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lawler falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lawler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lawler

The surname Lawler is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic word "Labhradha," which means "loud voice" or "speaker." It is believed to have originated in the 12th century in County Galway, Ireland.

The name Lawler is thought to have been initially a nickname for someone with a powerful or booming voice, perhaps a storyteller or orator. Over time, this nickname became a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lawler is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The document mentions a Diarmaid Ó Labhradha, an Irish chieftain from County Galway, who lived in the late 12th century.

Another early reference to the name Lawler comes from the 14th century, when a John Lawler was listed as a landowner in the Pipe Rolls of County Galway. This suggests that the Lawler family had established itself as a prominent clan in the region by that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Fergal Ó Labhradha, anglicized as Fergal Lawler, was a celebrated Irish poet and bard. He was renowned for his poetic compositions and is mentioned in various literary works of the era.

During the 17th century, the surname Lawler began to spread beyond County Galway as the family migrated to other parts of Ireland and eventually to other countries, such as England and America. One prominent individual was John Lawler, born in 1668, who was a successful merchant and landowner in County Cork.

In the 18th century, a famous bearer of the Lawler name was Robert Lawler, born in 1720 in County Tipperary. He was a renowned scholar and educator who served as the headmaster of several prestigious schools in Ireland.

Another notable figure was Michael Lawler, born in 1799 in County Mayo. He was a prominent Irish revolutionary who participated in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and later became a respected writer and historian, documenting the struggles for Irish independence.

As the Lawler family continued to disperse worldwide, the surname gained recognition in various fields. One such individual was John Lawler, an American politician born in 1837, who served as a U.S. Congressman from Illinois in the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawler 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. Lancashire leads with 556 Lawlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 556 3.57x
Middlesex 201 1.53x
Yorkshire 152 1.17x
Surrey 72 1.13x
Cheshire 51 1.76x
Kent 43 0.96x
Durham 29 0.74x
Warwickshire 27 0.82x
Hampshire 21 0.78x
Staffordshire 21 0.47x
Gloucestershire 17 0.66x
Sussex 17 0.77x
Berkshire 15 1.52x
Northumberland 11 0.56x
Midlothian 10 0.57x
Morayshire 10 4.91x
Angus 9 0.74x
Monmouthshire 9 0.95x
Devon 7 0.26x
Lanarkshire 7 0.17x
Lincolnshire 7 0.33x
Dunbartonshire 5 1.42x
Inverness-shire 5 1.28x
Channel Islands 4 1.03x
Cornwall 4 0.27x
Northamptonshire 4 0.32x
Selkirkshire 4 3.37x
Cumberland 3 0.27x
Essex 3 0.12x
Kinross-shire 3 9.04x
Royal Navy 3 1.92x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Glamorgan 2 0.09x
Hertfordshire 2 0.22x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Ayrshire 1 0.10x
Brecknockshire 1 0.38x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.19x
Herefordshire 1 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.24x
Ross-shire 1 0.28x
Somerset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 110 Lawlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.63x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 110 11.63x
Manchester 78 11.14x
Salford 43 9.39x
Kirkdale 36 13.75x
Ashton Under Lyne 27 7.94x
St Pancras London 27 2.56x
Toxteth Park 27 5.12x
Islington London 22 1.73x
Bootle Cum Linacre 21 16.98x
Birmingham 20 1.81x
St Marylebone London 20 2.86x
West Derby 20 4.39x
Wigan 18 8.27x
Hampstead London 17 8.32x
Middlesbrough 17 10.04x
Bermondsey 16 4.10x
Northowram 16 17.55x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 6.06x
Sheffield 15 3.62x
Preston 14 3.36x
Bradford 13 4.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 5.37x
Horton In Bradford 13 6.40x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 4.85x
Everton 12 2.42x
Leeds 12 1.63x
Gorton 11 7.52x
Macclesfield 11 8.55x
Elgin 10 25.21x
Kensington London 10 1.37x
Linthorpe 10 12.89x
Shildon 10 31.88x
St George Hanover Square 10 4.33x
Warrington 10 5.42x
Bowling 9 6.99x
Liscard 9 17.25x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 9 49.75x
Mile End Old Town London 9 3.22x
Paddington London 9 1.87x
Prescot 9 31.97x
Westminster St John 9 5.63x
Widnes 9 8.02x
Brighton 8 1.79x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 3.03x
Lambeth 8 0.70x
Southwark St John 8 19.94x
Southwark St Saviour 8 11.86x
St Andrew Holborn London 8 14.08x
St Botolph Aldgate London 8 29.61x
Windle 8 9.13x
Aston 7 0.77x
Barrow In Furness 7 3.31x
Biddulph 7 28.01x
Chester Holy Trinity 7 51.55x
Dukinfield 7 5.23x
Eastbourne 7 6.88x
Great Grimsby 7 5.26x
Ince In Makerfield 7 9.66x
Liff Benvie 7 3.79x
Newton 7 5.83x
Poplar London 7 2.83x
Reading St Mary 7 8.87x
St Anne Soho London 7 9.34x
Woolwich 7 4.23x
Alverstoke 6 6.16x
Crook Billy Row 6 12.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 6 13.85x
Helmington Row 6 33.00x
Holy Trinity 6 1.92x
Hulme 6 1.85x
Inveresk 6 12.61x
Oldham 6 1.19x
St George Bloomsbury 6 7.97x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.28x
Wallsend 6 9.69x
York Marygate St Olave 6 120.00x
Birkenhead 5 2.17x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 6.40x
Inverness 5 5.07x
Minster In Sheppey 5 6.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 129
Margaret 47
Elizabeth 43
Ellen 32
Catherine 29
Sarah 27
Annie 20
Ann 19
Bridget 19
Eliza 18
Alice 15
Jane 15
Kate 14
Emma 11
Hannah 10
Julia 10
Maria 10
Anne 9
Emily 9
Agnes 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Lucy 6
Rose 6
Ada 5
Esther 5
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Margt. 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Christina 3
Edith 3
Isabella 3
Susannah 3
Bridgett 2
Chatrine 2
Helen 2
Honora 2
Johanna 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Nannie 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Teresa 2
Theresa 2
Winifred 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 105
James 83
William 69
Thomas 45
Patrick 33
Edward 26
Joseph 23
Michael 16
Daniel 13
George 13
Francis 12
Peter 11
Harry 10
Thos. 10
Charles 9
Christopher 9
Alfred 8
Richard 8
Albert 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Ernest 4
Martin 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
David 3
Dennis 3
Hugh 3
Michl. 3
Philip 3
Abraham 2
Bartholomew 2
Cornelius 2
Denis 2
Edwin 2
G. 2
Geo. 2
Luke 2
Mitchel 2
Owen 2
Patk. 2
Ralph 2
Ambrose 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.Henry 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Jonathan 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Lawler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,343 people were recorded with the Lawler surname. That placed it at #3,050 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,352 in 2016. That gives Lawler a modern rank of #2,782.

What does the Lawler surname mean?

An Irish occupational surname referring to a merchant, landlord, or law enforcer.

What does the Lawler map show?

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