This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Laurence.' This saint of universal popularity has made a deep impression upon our nomenclature; v. Law (a), Lawson, Lowrie, Laurie, Larkin, Larrett, &c.

Gilbert Laueronce, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John fil. Laurence, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Simon fil. Laurencii, London, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Nicholas Lawranson, of Poynton, Cheshire, 1584: Wills at Chester.

James Lawranson, of Maghull, 1613: ibid.

Josiah Lawrenson, of Frodsham: ibid. (1681-1700).

Memorials to members of one and the same family represent the name as follows:

Mary, wife of John Laurence, 1736: History of Norfolk.

Ester, wife of John Lawrence, 1796: ibid.

Mary, d. of John and Ester Lanranee, 1727: ibid.

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the low,' i.e. hill; v. Low. The seeming plural form Lawes represents the common tendency to tack on an 's' in monosyllabic local surnames; compare Styles, Oakes, Brooks, Sykes, Dykes, &c. Probably the patronymic s, as in Williams, Jones, Sec.; v. Brook, (a) Bapt. 'the son of Lawrence,' from the nick. Law. For instances, v. Lawson. The final 's' in Lawes will here represent the patronymic, as in Jones, Williams, Jennings, Sec.

William de la Lawe, Northumberland, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Ralph de la Law, or Lowe, Salop; ibid.

Robertus del Lawe, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes de la Law, 1379: ibid.

1527-8. John Brewer and Agnes Lawes: Marriage Lic. (London).

1591. John Lawe, yeoman, and Elizabeth Manteilde: ibid.

There are ten or more places named Law in Scotland from which this name may have been derived. It was a common surname in Glasgow in the sixteenth century. In 1428 Robert de Lawe had a safe conduct to pass through England on his return from Spain. James of Law compeared in court with an accusation against another in 1488 (Prestwick, p. 32), and Quintigernus Law is in record in 1644 (Inputs., 2991). John Law (1671—1729), the financier and projector of commercial schemes, was born in Edinburgh.

Pl., and genit., of Law(e, q.v.

(A-Sax, hlaew, hlaw.') 1. What covers, as a grave, a heap, a barrow, a small hill. 2. A tract of ground gently rising-a low. (Bosworth.) Still used in the North for an eminence.

The personal name, from the Latin Laurentius. The following are its diminutives and derivatives; Lawrie, Larry, Larkin, Larking, Larkins, Lawes, Lawson, Lawkin.

A hill-also an abbreviation of Lawrence.

Flourishing.

(Scottish.) A hill. Laye, old French, a hill.

Flourishing, spreading, from Laurus, the laurel—tree. Sir Robert Lawrence, of Ashton Hall, Lancashire, England, accompanied Richard I. to the Holy Land, 1191.

From Anglo-Saxon hlaw, a heap, burrow, or small hill. Hence the surnames Low, Lowe, and, among other compounds, Blacklaw, Carlaw, Cutlove, Dearlove, Freelove, Fullalove, Greenlaw, Manlove, Marklove, Newlove, Onslowe (hounds), Pursglove, Purslove, Quicklove, Shillinglaw, Spendlove, Spenlove, Sweetlove, Truelove, Truslove, Wardlaw, Whitelaw, Whitlow, Younglove.

Lawrence. —Characteristic of the southern half of England, especially numerous in the south - west, where it is best represented in Somerset, and then in the neighbouring counties of Dorset and Gloucester. Lawrenson is a Lancashire name. Amongst the derivatives of Lawrence are included Law, Lawes, Lawson, Lawrie, Larkin, etc. In one form or another this ancient name is scattered over England.