Lawson
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Lawrence.”
The #256 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 2,593 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Lawson is an English surname built from the short form Law, a familiar pet form of the given name Lawrence. Lawrence itself comes from the Latin Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum” or “of Laurentum,” an ancient Roman place-name. So the name originally meant “son of Lawrence.”
History
The surname appears in medieval and early modern English records and is especially well attested in northern England, including Cumberland and Yorkshire. Like many patronymics, it developed from an earlier given name and then became hereditary. Related forms include Lawes, Lawrie, Larkin, and Lawkin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley notes that Law and Lawson were both already familiar as surname forms by the 17th century, especially in the north of England.
From the historical record
“topography of the old town : ' the ancient part occupies the slopes and summit of a declivity.' — Gaz. Scot, ed. Lawson] Pake”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)