NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawrie

A surname derived from the given name Laurence.

In the 1881 census there were 2,908 people recorded with the Lawrie surname, ranking it #1,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,203, ranked #1,613, down from #1,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Comely Bank, Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton and Benderloch Trail.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawrie is 4,267 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.5%.

1881 census count

2,908

Ranked #1,540

Modern count

4,203

2016, ranked #1,613

Peak year

2010

4,267 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lawrie had 2,908 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,203 in 2016, ranked #1,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,102 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lawrie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawrie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawrie 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 1,954 #1,483
1861 historical 2,052 #1,412
1881 historical 2,908 #1,540
1891 historical 3,616 #1,328
1901 historical 4,102 #1,374
1911 historical 620 #6,668
1997 modern 3,972 #1,632
1998 modern 4,158 #1,624
1999 modern 4,207 #1,618
2000 modern 4,218 #1,596
2001 modern 4,041 #1,642
2002 modern 4,186 #1,606
2003 modern 4,062 #1,624
2004 modern 4,046 #1,625
2005 modern 4,123 #1,581
2006 modern 4,116 #1,587
2007 modern 4,142 #1,591
2008 modern 4,148 #1,599
2009 modern 4,212 #1,612
2010 modern 4,267 #1,619
2011 modern 4,190 #1,631
2012 modern 4,056 #1,653
2013 modern 4,138 #1,652
2014 modern 4,176 #1,648
2015 modern 4,193 #1,625
2016 modern 4,203 #1,613

Geography

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Where Lawries are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Comely Bank, Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton, Benderloch Trail, Lochaber East and North and Milnathort and Crook of Devon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Comely Bank City of Edinburgh
2 Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton South Lanarkshire
3 Benderloch Trail Argyll and Bute
4 Lochaber East and North Highland
5 Milnathort and Crook of Devon Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawrie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawrie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lawrie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lawrie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lawrie 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

Lawrie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lawrie falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lawrie 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 Lawrie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lawrie

The surname Lawrie has its roots in Scotland, originating from the Lowlands region during the Middle Ages. It is a variant spelling of the name Laurie, derived from the Latin name Laurus, meaning "laurel tree." The name may have been given to someone who lived near a laurel grove or worked with laurel wood.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and charters as Lauri, Lauerie, and Lawre. One of the earliest recorded instances was in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where Richard Lauri from Berwickshire swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

The Lawrie name is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. Sir Robert Lawrie (1533-1595) was a Scottish merchant and diplomat who served as a Lord of Session in the Court of Session. In the 17th century, John Lawrie (1673-1737) was a prominent Presbyterian minister and theologian in Scotland.

Another significant bearer of the name was Sir Walter Lawrie (1795-1859), a Scottish colonial administrator who served as the Governor of British Guiana (now Guyana) from 1838 to 1849. In the literary world, Rev. John Lawrie (1793-1859) was a Scottish writer and editor who published several works on Scottish history and poetry.

The Lawrie surname is also linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Lawrieston in Kincardineshire and Laurieston in Stirlingshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the Lawrie surname who owned or lived in those areas.

Among other notable individuals with the surname Lawrie are Alexander Lawrie (1828-1917), a Scottish-Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons, and William Lawrie (1830-1904), a Scottish-Australian politician and businessman who became a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawrie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawrie 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. Midlothian leads with 643 Lawries recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.16x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 643 17.16x
Lanarkshire 513 5.67x
Ayrshire 171 8.17x
Fife 169 10.20x
Renfrewshire 167 7.70x
Aberdeenshire 154 5.94x
East Lothian 89 24.02x
Angus 73 2.82x
Berwickshire 73 21.55x
Stirlingshire 71 6.88x
Northumberland 68 1.63x
West Lothian 68 16.14x
Middlesex 56 0.20x
Roxburghshire 55 10.85x
Lancashire 51 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 45 7.28x
Perthshire 37 2.95x
Kincardineshire 34 9.98x
Peeblesshire 32 24.32x
Wigtownshire 25 6.73x
Kirkcudbrightshire 24 5.93x
Surrey 24 0.18x
Kent 22 0.23x
Durham 20 0.24x
Argyllshire 19 2.44x
Dunbartonshire 17 2.26x
Yorkshire 15 0.05x
Clackmannanshire 13 5.63x
Cambridgeshire 11 0.62x
Cardiganshire 11 1.61x
Kinross-shire 10 14.14x
Essex 9 0.16x
Sussex 9 0.19x
Selkirkshire 8 3.16x
Buteshire 6 3.54x
Warwickshire 6 0.09x
Anglesey 5 1.01x
Inverness-shire 5 0.60x
Caithness 4 1.04x
Glamorgan 4 0.08x
Hampshire 4 0.07x
Ross-shire 4 0.52x
Leicestershire 3 0.10x
Norfolk 3 0.07x
Royal Navy 3 0.90x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.12x
Cheshire 2 0.03x
Morayshire 2 0.46x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.09x
Cumberland 1 0.04x
Devon 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.06x
Radnorshire 1 0.44x
Sutherland 1 0.46x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 293 Lawries recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.43x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 293 19.43x
Govan 183 8.18x
Barony 110 4.80x
South Leith 94 22.29x
Glasgow 61 3.80x
Wemyss 59 84.20x
Dunfermline 37 14.53x
Abbey 35 10.58x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 35 7.22x
Dundee 33 3.41x
Paisley Middle Church 33 26.14x
Ellon 30 84.20x
Kilmarnock 29 11.64x
Falkirk 28 11.59x
North Leith 28 16.14x
Liff Benvie 27 6.86x
Ratho 26 148.74x
Renfrew 26 36.31x
Haddington 25 45.70x
Loudoun 22 43.69x
Duddingston 19 25.26x
Port Glasgow 19 18.13x
Bothwell 18 7.34x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 18 20.30x
St Boswells 18 195.87x
Libberton 17 283.33x
Maybole 17 26.67x
Berwick Upon Tweed 16 18.14x
Cambusnethan 16 7.96x
Cramond 16 56.34x
Old Monkland 16 4.46x
Prestonkirk 16 86.35x
Sanquhar 16 73.66x
Shotts 16 14.78x
Aberdeen Old Machar 15 2.77x
Bathgate 15 16.40x
Edinburgh Canongate 15 15.73x
Whitburn 15 24.64x
Cruden 14 41.95x
Logie 14 31.08x
Paisley High Church 14 8.11x
Stenton 14 245.61x
Bunkle Preston 13 186.78x
Langton 13 268.04x
Biggar 12 58.65x
Bromley London 12 1.95x
Carnwath 12 21.45x
Dunse 12 37.35x
Fettercairn 12 82.82x
Innerwick 12 161.07x
Kirkliston 12 48.84x
Lasswade 12 14.00x
Newburgh 12 57.03x
Annan 11 20.72x
Echt 11 88.14x
Eckford 11 125.43x
Hutton 11 118.53x
Lesmahagow 11 11.50x
Penicuik 11 21.60x
Roxburgh 11 113.40x
St Andrewthe Less 11 5.43x
Westgate 11 4.27x
Balmaclellan 10 110.86x
Cathcart 10 8.53x
Coldingham 10 32.84x
Dalkeith 10 13.52x
Dreghorn 10 26.39x
Hawick 10 8.82x
Kinross 10 41.24x
Kirkcowan 10 79.94x
New Cumnock 10 27.54x
Brighton 9 0.95x
Dalrymple 9 68.60x
Eastwood 9 6.74x
Glassary 9 21.45x
Kirkcaldy 9 10.96x
Longbenton 9 5.10x
St Quivox 9 12.71x
Tarves 9 36.72x
Tynemouth 9 4.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Jane 12
Margaret 12
Annie 9
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 7
Isabella 7
Rose 5
Agnes 4
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Ada 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Cecilia 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Janet 1
Jennie 1
Jessie 1
L.H. 1
Laura 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Marget 1
Margt.F. 1
Marian 1
Merion 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
James 22
John 22
Robert 16
Thomas 14
Andrew 9
George 8
Alexander 6
Walter 6
Henry 5
Peter 5
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Hugh 2
Jamie 2
A. 1
Alex 1
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Donald 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederet 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.A. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Infant 1
Jasper 1
Joseph 1
Macdonald 1
Neville 1
Phillip 1
Saml. 1
Samson 1
Thos.Ed. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lawrie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawrie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,908 people were recorded with the Lawrie surname. That placed it at #1,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawrie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,203 in 2016. That gives Lawrie a modern rank of #1,613.

What does the Lawrie surname mean?

A surname derived from the given name Laurence.

What does the Lawrie map show?

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