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.

From the Latin personal name Laurentius through French Laurence. The church of Edzell was dedicated to S. Laurentius the Deacon, who was martyred under Valerian by being roasted on a gridiron, A.D. 258. The saint's well is near by the churchyard. Magister Laurentius, a cleric, was a charter witness, c. 1150 (REG., 11), and Laurentius was archdeacon of Brechin in 1368 (RMS., I, 236). John Lourens was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1541 (NSCM., I, p. 57), and John Lourance was notary in Duns in 1663 (Lauder). Lauraince 1608, Laurence 1644, Lauritan 1665, Lawrence 1629, Lorrance 1716, Lourence 1574, Lourens 1541, Lowrance 1446, Lowrence 1584 Lowrens 1569.

The French Laurence, Laurens, Latin Laurens, Laurentius (Ital. Lorenzo) = Laurentine [from Laurentum, a town in Latium, which gave the Latin adjectives Laurens, -entis, and Laurenti-us, -a, -um, Laurentine; prob. from Latin laurus, the laurel-tree] * Laurus erat tecti medio in penetralibus altis...

Ipse ferabatur Phoebo sacrasse Latinus Lauretitis que ab en nomen posuisse colonis (59, 62-3).

Deep in the palace, of long growth, there stood A laurel’s trunk, a venerable wood . . .

This plant Latinus, when his town he wall’d, Then found, and from the tree Laurentum call’d; And last, in honour of his new abode, He vow’d the laurel to the laurel’s god.*—Æneis (Dryden), VII. 88-95.

A Laurentius, d. A.D. 619, was Arch­bishop of Canterbury.

Unto the Frenssh compiled by Laurence. —Lydgate, Remembraunce of a Peedeugrê (A.D. 1426), 61.

‘There is no doubt that Laurence was the local hero with the Romans, who placed him almost on the same level with Peter and Paul, the founders of the Church, and much higher than the other favourite Stephen.’-R. Lanciani, Athenœum, 8th Dec. 1900, p. 765.

(Welsh) Descendant of Laurence (laurel, symbol of victory).

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

Flourishing.

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

William Lorenz, Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); John, Richard, William Laurenz or Laurence Engl. c. 1272 (Rotuli Hundredorum). Also for St. Laurence.

Fr.; a personal name.

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.