Surname Lawrey - Meaning and Origin
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Lawrey: What does the surname Lawrey mean?
The last name Lawrey has English and Welsh origins. Its etymology comes from the Norman personal name, "Lofrai", which is derived from the German "loue" meaning "praise." The surname Lawrey is then derived from the Old French spoken between 1066 and the mid-13th century, with "loi" meaning "law".
The Lawreys are a historic English family whose name traces back to the medieval period of Britain (1066-1485). Given that the Lawrey surname is descended from the Normans, it is likely that the family was part of the Norman invasion and subsequent rise to power in the kingdom of England.
The Lawrey family were involved in the politics and military of the time, with some Lawreys serving as knights in some of the most famous battles of the period. The Lawreys were largely feudal lords in the south of England, who built castles and kept their own knights and adjudicatory systems.
The Lawrey family continues today, with many of them still in England, although emigrants across the world carry the family name today. The Lawrey family is proud of their rich history, and their name is steeped in the stories of the past. It's also a testament to the resilience of the family, who have kept their name alive for centuries and will continue to do so for years to come.
Order DNA origin analysisLawrey: Where does the name Lawrey come from?
The surname Lawrey mainly originates from England and it is a variant of the name "Lowry" which has roots from Normandy, France. The name possibly evolved from the Old French 'loure' which means 'a wolf', or from the name Laurence. The first recorded spelling of the family name dates back to 1201, in the "Pipe Rolls of Shropshire".
After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many names were anglicized and changed as the language evolved. So it's possible that Lawrey also has origins from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain.
As of today, this surname is not extremely common and is likely most frequently found in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and England itself. Note that the popularity of surnames can vary greatly depending on the specific region within a country.
Variations of the surname Lawrey
The surname Lawrey is thought to have English origin and could be a variant of the more traditional surname "Lowery" or "Lowry". There is also a possibility it could have emerged as a different version of "Laurie," a common Scottish surname.
The surname Lawrey has numerous variations with the most common being Lowrey, Lowry, and Lowery. Some more uncommon variants of the surname might be Lauri, Laury, Laurey, Lauery, Lorrey, Lorry, and Lowree. There could also be a non-English versions of the surname, for example the French "Laurier".
Different spelling variations often arose due to different regional dialects and phonetic spellings before literacy became commonplace. It could also be because of cultural change, immigration and anglicization.
Other forms could also be created with prefixes and suffixes attached, for instance, MacLaurie or O'Lawrey could have been used to denote origin or lineage.
Mispellings could also occur during record transcription, immigration processes or census, therefore one can never have a comprehensive list of all possible variations of the surname Lawrey.
Famous people with the name Lawrey
- Ryan Lawrey: Australian Rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club.
- Lawrence Lawrey: British actor who has appeared in movies and television shows such as Luther, Law & Order and Monk.
- Stuart Lawrey: British songwriter and musician who wrote the theme song for the British TV comedy series People Like Us.
- Brad Lawrey: New Zealand comedian, actor and presenter who is best known for hosting the game show The Rich List.
- Constantine Lawrey: British lawyer and barrister who has been appointed a High Court Judge of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales.
- Maiben Lawrey: American country music singer who released her debut album Heart Like A Wheel in 2011.
- Thomas Lawrey: British politician and Member of Parliament for Sleaford and North Hykeham, having been elected in the 2015 general election.
- Henry Lawrey: Canadian college and professional football player who played for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.
- John Lawrey: British special effects artist whose work has been featured in blockbuster films such as X-Men and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
- David Lawrey: Australian businessman and philanthropist who was the former Chairman and CEO of the ANZ Bank.