UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "lawter" meaning cloth fuller or walker.
In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Lawter surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,110 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Woburn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawter is 113 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.0%.
1881 census count
5
Ranked #33,110
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
113 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lawter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lawter surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 5 | #33,110 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 26 | #31,152 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Woburn, London parishes, Manchester and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Woburn | Bedfordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lawter surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lawter, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lawter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lawter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lawter is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lawter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lawter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lawter originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "hlāfweard," which translates to "loaf-keeper" or "bread-guard." This occupation-based surname was given to individuals who were responsible for guarding or distributing bread, potentially indicating their role as bakers or those who worked in manors or estates.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations such as "Lauuard" and "Lauward" appearing in historical records. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, the name "Alicia Lauward" is mentioned, indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that time period.
The name Lawter has also been connected to certain place names, particularly in areas where the surname was prevalent. For example, the village of Lauwarderland in the Netherlands, formerly known as "Lauwarderkwartier," may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.
One notable individual with the surname Lawter was John Lawter, a 16th-century English politician and Member of Parliament for Grantham, Lincolnshire. He served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, though his specific birth and death dates are uncertain.
In the 17th century, Edward Lawter, born around 1620 in England, was among the early settlers of Virginia Colony. He arrived in the New World in the 1640s and established a plantation in what is now York County, Virginia.
Another historical figure was William Lawter, born in 1795 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was a renowned architect and civil engineer, known for his contributions to the design and construction of bridges, harbors, and other infrastructure projects in Scotland during the 19th century.
The name Lawter also appeared in literary works, such as the 1854 novel "The Lawters" by Mary Jane Holmes, an American author. While the book is fictional, it may have drawn inspiration from the surname's historical roots and prevalence in certain regions.
In the late 19th century, John Lawter, born in 1865 in Staffordshire, England, was a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded the Lawter Chemical Company, which manufactured various chemical products and became a successful business venture.
These examples illustrate the historical presence of the surname Lawter in different regions and across various periods, highlighting its connection to occupations, places, and notable individuals throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lawter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 3 Lawters recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.21x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cromer in Norfolk leads with 2 Lawters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cromer | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Horton Kirby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Islington London | 1 | 21.28x |
| Norwich St Michael At | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lawter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lawter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alfred | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Lawter surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Lawter a modern rank of #39,061.
An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "lawter" meaning cloth fuller or walker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lawter bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.