NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawlor

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Leathlobhair," meaning "descendant of Leathlobhar" (one with a half-leper or partly crippled appearance).

In the 1881 census there were 400 people recorded with the Lawlor surname, ranking it #7,974 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,022, ranked #2,227, up from #7,974 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill, Liverpool and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawlor is 3,062 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 655.5%.

1881 census count

400

Ranked #7,974

Modern count

3,022

2016, ranked #2,227

Peak year

2010

3,062 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lawlor had 400 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,974 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,022 in 2016, ranked #2,227.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 550 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lawlor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawlor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawlor 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 400 #7,974
1891 historical 402 #8,842
1901 historical 541 #7,611
1911 historical 550 #7,287
1997 modern 2,783 #2,312
1998 modern 2,869 #2,341
1999 modern 2,853 #2,360
2000 modern 2,876 #2,343
2001 modern 2,838 #2,311
2002 modern 2,878 #2,336
2003 modern 2,784 #2,357
2004 modern 2,784 #2,359
2005 modern 2,788 #2,333
2006 modern 2,748 #2,355
2007 modern 2,780 #2,357
2008 modern 2,820 #2,338
2009 modern 2,907 #2,328
2010 modern 3,062 #2,255
2011 modern 3,005 #2,274
2012 modern 2,991 #2,228
2013 modern 3,026 #2,249
2014 modern 3,039 #2,251
2015 modern 3,035 #2,226
2016 modern 3,022 #2,227

Geography

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Where Lawlors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, 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 Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill, Liverpool, Tewkesbury, Birmingham and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill Clackmannanshire
2 Liverpool 045 Liverpool
3 Tewkesbury 009 Tewkesbury
4 Birmingham 025 Birmingham
5 Stockton-on-Tees 012 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawlor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawlor

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lawlor, 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 Lawlor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lawlor 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lawlor is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Lawlor 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

Lawlor 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 Lawlor 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Lawlor

The surname Lawlor is of Irish origin, tracing its roots to the ancient Gaelic territory of Laighis, now known as County Laois in the Irish province of Leinster. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "leath" meaning "half" and "ghabhaltas" meaning "conquest" or "territory."

Lawlor is an Anglicized form of the original Irish Gaelic surname Ó Leathlobhair, which translates to "descendant of Leathlobhar." Leathlobhar was a personal name meaning "half-lame" or "crippled," suggesting a connection to an ancestor with a physical disability.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Lawlor can be found in medieval Irish annals and manuscripts, such as the Annals of the Four Masters, which date back to the 12th century. These records document the activities and exploits of various Lawlor families and individuals throughout Irish history.

One notable figure from the annals is Muircheartach Ó Leathlobhair, who served as the Bishop of Leighlin from 1216 to 1227. Another early example is Gilla na Naemh Ó Leathlobhair, a prominent cleric and scholar who lived in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Lawlor surname was concentrated in County Laois, particularly around the town of Portarlington. During this period, several Lawlor families were among the principal landowners and gentry of the region.

A celebrated individual from this era was Redmund Lawlor, a renowned scholar and linguist who lived from 1570 to 1635. He was proficient in various languages, including Irish, English, Latin, and Greek, and served as a tutor to several prominent Irish families.

Another notable figure was John Lawlor, born in 1592, who was a distinguished soldier and served as a captain in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s.

In the 18th century, several Lawlor families migrated from County Laois to other parts of Ireland, including Counties Kilkenny and Tipperary. One prominent member of this era was Thomas Lawlor, born in 1733, who was a successful merchant and landowner in County Kilkenny.

The 19th century saw the rise of several accomplished Lawlors, such as William Lawlor, a renowned Irish nationalist and Member of Parliament who lived from 1842 to 1913. He played a significant role in the Irish Home Rule movement and advocated for Irish independence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawlor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawlor 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 130 Lawlors recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 130 2.80x
Yorkshire 68 1.75x
Middlesex 34 0.87x
Lanarkshire 29 2.29x
Kent 25 1.87x
Warwickshire 16 1.62x
Durham 15 1.29x
Surrey 14 0.73x
Northumberland 13 2.23x
Hampshire 9 1.12x
Angus 8 2.21x
Huntingdonshire 8 10.30x
Sussex 8 1.21x
Cumberland 6 1.78x
Essex 5 0.65x
Cheshire 4 0.46x
Monmouthshire 3 1.06x
Bedfordshire 2 0.99x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Herefordshire 1 0.62x
Midlothian 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.15x

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 23 Lawlors recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.16x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 23 8.16x
Manchester 23 11.02x
Bradford 14 14.92x
Shotts 14 92.47x
Barony 12 3.75x
Openshaw 11 50.60x
Poplar London 11 14.90x
Bowling 9 23.44x
Deptford St Paul 9 8.74x
Horton In Bradford 9 14.87x
Throxenby 9 5294.12x
Widnes 9 26.88x
Dundee 8 5.91x
Hipperholme Cum 8 46.98x
Marton 8 1600.00x
Newington 8 5.54x
Ryhope 8 99.01x
St Neots 8 189.57x
Wallsend 8 43.34x
Arundel 7 189.70x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 9.49x
Aston 6 2.21x
Blackburn 6 4.86x
Broughton In Salford 6 14.14x
Kensington London 6 2.76x
Milton In Gravesend 6 29.99x
Oldham 6 4.00x
Willesden 6 16.27x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.94x
Fishwick 5 174.22x
Great Bolton 5 8.13x
North Meols 5 11.00x
Richmond 5 82.51x
South Shields 5 48.22x
South Weald 5 75.64x
Woolwich 5 10.14x
Workington 5 25.93x
Aldershot 4 14.89x
Battersea 4 2.78x
Beswick 4 33.70x
East Denton 4 303.03x
Eccleston In Prescot 4 17.17x
Salford 4 2.93x
St Faith Winchester 4 106.95x
Tanshelf 4 129.03x
Normanby In 3 28.96x
Plumstead 3 6.74x
St Pancras London 3 0.95x
Aberystruth 2 8.02x
Cambusnethan 2 7.12x
Chester St John Baptist 2 12.89x
Crumpsall 2 18.28x
Hulme 2 2.06x
Nether Hallam 2 3.81x
Northowram 2 7.36x
Rugby 2 14.98x
Shefford 2 138.89x
St Marylebone London 2 0.96x
Toxteth Park 2 1.27x
Bradford 1 4.60x
Brighton 1 0.75x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.32x
Crossgate 1 19.65x
Frimley 1 18.42x
Fulham London 1 1.76x
Gillingham 1 3.63x
Glasgow 1 0.45x
Hythe St Leonard 1 21.19x
Kirkdale 1 1.28x
Llangattock Nigh Usk 1 312.50x
Longbenton 1 4.06x
Reading St Giles 1 3.47x
Rotherhithe 1 2.07x
Royal Navy 1 2.51x
St Giles 1 13.77x
Sutton In Macclesfield 1 11.16x
Upton By Birkenhead 1 120.48x
Walton On Hill 1 3.98x
Warrington 1 1.82x
Whitwell On The Hill 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Lawlor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawlor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 400 people were recorded with the Lawlor surname. That placed it at #7,974 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawlor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,022 in 2016. That gives Lawlor a modern rank of #2,227.

What does the Lawlor surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Leathlobhair," meaning "descendant of Leathlobhar" (one with a half-leper or partly crippled appearance).

What does the Lawlor map show?

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