NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawry

A locational surname derived from a place name like Lowry or Lawers.

In the 1881 census there were 570 people recorded with the Lawry surname, ranking it #6,099 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 561, ranked #9,145, down from #6,099 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Budock, St Mewan and Madron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawry is 649 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

570

Ranked #6,099

Modern count

561

2016, ranked #9,145

Peak year

1901

649 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lawry had 570 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,099 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016, ranked #9,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 649 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lawry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawry 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 530 #4,736
1861 historical 441 #5,853
1881 historical 570 #6,099
1891 historical 551 #6,868
1901 historical 649 #6,648
1911 historical 621 #6,661
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 547 #8,975
1999 modern 552 #8,959
2000 modern 552 #8,917
2001 modern 540 #8,919
2002 modern 534 #9,190
2003 modern 525 #9,162
2004 modern 519 #9,257
2005 modern 507 #9,351
2006 modern 512 #9,319
2007 modern 503 #9,524
2008 modern 512 #9,470
2009 modern 525 #9,501
2010 modern 531 #9,615
2011 modern 536 #9,468
2012 modern 533 #9,407
2013 modern 561 #9,177
2014 modern 573 #9,089
2015 modern 568 #9,068
2016 modern 561 #9,145

Geography

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Where Lawrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Budock, St Mewan, Madron, Kea and Sancreed. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Budock Cornwall
2 St Mewan Cornwall
3 Madron Cornwall
4 Kea Cornwall
5 Sancreed Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 069 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 045 Cornwall
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 007 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Cornwall 050 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 054 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawry

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Lawry is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lawry is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lawry 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 Lawry 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 Lawry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lawry

The surname Lawry has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, and "ry" meaning a stream or watercourse. The name initially referred to a person who lived near a meadow with a stream running through it.

Early recordings of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Laweri" and "Lawria". These early spellings suggest that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Robert Lawry, a knight who lived in the late 13th century and held lands in Oxfordshire. In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Laury" and "Lawery".

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Lawry surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. Notable individuals from this period include William Lawry (1545-1611), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, and John Lawry (1620-1687), a Puritan minister who emigrated to New England and served as the pastor of the First Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, the Lawry family had a strong presence in the West Country of England. One notable figure was Sir Robert Lawry (1720-1788), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Somerset in 1767. Another prominent individual was Admiral Sir John Lawry (1748-1827), a distinguished naval officer who played a significant role in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, the Lawry name spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as to British colonies and dominions around the world. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Walter Lawry Buller (1838-1906), a prominent New Zealand lawyer, ornithologist, and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of New Zealand's native birds.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Lawry throughout history, illustrating its long-standing presence and significance in various regions and contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lawry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawry 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 428 Lawrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.11x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 428 68.11x
Devon 31 2.68x
Middlesex 23 0.41x
Lancashire 15 0.23x
Somerset 10 1.12x
Yorkshire 10 0.18x
Durham 8 0.48x
Lincolnshire 7 0.79x
Glamorgan 6 0.62x
Kent 6 0.32x
Lanarkshire 6 0.33x
Surrey 6 0.22x
Bedfordshire 3 1.04x
Northumberland 3 0.36x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.86x
Derbyshire 2 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 1.51x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Just In Penwith in Cornwall leads with 42 Lawrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 344.54x.

Place Total Index
St Just In Penwith 42 344.54x
Sancreed 40 2247.19x
Madron 28 551.18x
Budock 25 528.54x
Madron Penzance 22 96.28x
Kea 20 427.35x
Redruth 18 101.24x
St Gluvias 15 426.14x
St Ive 15 372.21x
Ludgvan 13 259.48x
St Austell 13 60.52x
Stoke Damerel 13 16.08x
St Mewan 12 618.56x
Perranzabuloe 11 202.95x
Bleadon 10 847.46x
Camborne 10 38.63x
St Breock 10 294.12x
Bodmin 9 86.54x
Mabe 9 697.67x
Zennor 9 775.86x
Phillack 8 98.64x
St Agnes 8 90.91x
Dawdon 7 34.47x
St Neot 7 282.26x
Swillington 7 448.72x
Bere Ferrers 6 315.79x
Cardinham 6 1052.63x
Constantine 6 163.93x
St Ives 6 48.78x
Glasgow 5 1.57x
Godstone 5 103.31x
Newlyn 5 186.57x
Paul 5 43.78x
St Dominick 5 316.46x
Cardynham 4 754.72x
Cleethorpes 4 76.63x
Everton 4 1.91x
Gorran 4 225.99x
Hampstead London 4 4.63x
Mawgan In Pyder 4 296.30x
Modbury 4 135.59x
Morvah 4 1142.86x
Newchurch 4 7.42x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.09x
Ystradyfodwg 4 4.72x
Great Grimsby 3 5.33x
Luton 3 6.03x
Mylor 3 71.26x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.37x
Poplar London 3 2.86x
Probus 3 116.28x
St George In East London 3 5.75x
Tywardreath 3 74.26x
Widnes 3 6.32x
Breage 2 34.84x
Chatham 2 3.84x
Gwennap 2 16.88x
Hayes 2 151.52x
Humshaugh 2 222.22x
Islington London 2 0.37x
Jacobstow 2 246.91x
Llanelly 2 3.80x
Matlock 2 17.14x
Plymouth Charles The 2 3.93x
Scarborough 2 4.00x
Shoreditch London 2 0.83x
St Ewe 2 105.26x
St Minver 2 104.17x
Swansea Town 2 2.52x
Truro St Mary 2 37.88x
Westminster St James 2 3.51x
Whitchurch 2 98.52x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 2.02x
Cottingham 1 8.44x
Dalserf 1 5.58x
Fowey 1 34.72x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 1.40x
Royal Navy 1 1.77x
Trowbridge 1 4.61x
Worsley 1 2.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 31
Jane 19
Ellen 14
Annie 13
Ann 11
Eliza 8
Emily 8
Grace 8
Sarah 8
Elizth. 6
Catherine 5
Johanna 5
Margaret 5
Susan 5
Caroline 4
Beatrice 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Bessie 2
Christiana 2
Clara 2
Elizth.Ann 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Honor 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Millicent 2
Nanny 2
Priscilla 2
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Charity 1
Charlote 1
Elizebeth 1
Emma 1
Essie 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Tabitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 43
James 23
Thomas 19
Richard 17
Samuel 10
Charles 9
Henry 8
Walter 7
Arthur 6
Joseph 5
Edward 4
Alfred 3
George 3
Nicholas 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Bryan 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Hugh 2
Martin 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Charley 1
Christiana 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Gorge 1
Hart 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
J.C. 1
Jane 1
Louis 1
Lyttleton 1
Morris 1
Noah 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Richad 1
Stephen 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Lawry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lawry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 570 people were recorded with the Lawry surname. That placed it at #6,099 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lawry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016. That gives Lawry a modern rank of #9,145.

What does the Lawry surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name like Lowry or Lawers.

What does the Lawry map show?

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