Surname Lawsen - Meaning and Origin
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Lawsen: What does the surname Lawsen mean?
The last name Lawsen is a patronymic surname of English and Scandinavian origin. Derived from the personal name Lawrence, which is itself of a Roman origin, the Lawsen surname formed as a patronymic by adding the suffix '-sen' or '-son' to denote "son of Lawrence".
Lawrence is a given name derived from the Latin "Laurentius", a form of the name of the Roman god of War, Mars, which means "victorius". The Roman Flavius Julius Valens Aurelius Laurentius, known as Emperor Valentinian I of the Western Empire, had the given name Laurentius, which was later translated to Lawrence. The French name Laurent was also known through Archbishop Thomas Becket.
The Lawsen surname is found in records dating back to the 13th century in England, and referring to Gilbert Laweson of Yorkshire in 1230. Variations in spelling for the Lawsen surname exist, such as Laweson, Lawson, Lauwson, and Larsen.
The spelling variant Larson is more common in the Scandinavian area, and appears to have originated in Norway and Denmark. In Norway, the name Larson appeared as early as 1531, and the name Larsen appeared in Danish records as early as 1650 in the form of Toften Larsen.
Notably, the Lawsen name is associated with many famous figures throughout history, such as actor O.J. Lawsen, former U.S. Senator Paul Lawsen, and singer Cheryl Lawsen.
Order DNA origin analysisLawsen: Where does the name Lawsen come from?
The last name Lawsen is largely concentrated in the United States, specifically in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. The surname had its origin in Norway, where it was spelled "Lausen" and was derived from “lauss” which means “stout” or “big”, making Lawsen a literally description of its original bearer.
The most notable concentration of the surname is found in Minnesota and Wisconsin. According to the 2018 United States Census, Lawsen is the 835th most common surname in the US, with an estimated 27,275 people bearing it. Additionally, it is the 1,401st most common name in Minnesota, and the 2,273rd most common name in Wisconsin.
The spread of Lawsen families appears to be steadily increasing, no doubt enhanced by immigration and population growth. However, there are still notable concentrations in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. In Pennsylvania, it is the 1,164th most common surname. Georgia ranks Lawsen as the 1,816th most common name. And in New York, it is the 3,347th most common; and in Michigan the 4,045th.
Lawsen is, in large part, rooted in the US Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, however, as immigration trends and population growths continue, the last name Lawsen is becoming more widespread across the entire country.
Variations of the surname Lawsen
The surname Lawsen is a patronymic form of the English surname Lawson, a name derived from the Old English personal name "Law," meaning "lawful one." The patronymic is derived from "Lawson's son," with the corresponding patronymic forms for females being Lawson's daughter, or Lawsen's daughter.
There are several different spellings of the surname Lawsen, including Lawsen, Lawesen, Lawsin, Lawesin, Lawsin, Laweson, Lawesson, Lausen, Lawessin, Lowson, and Lowsen. Some of these variants of the surname may also appear as either Law or Laws.
The name Lawsen is also a variant of the surname Larsen, derived from the given name Lars (a short form of Laurence) or an Anglicized form of the Norse name, Lausson. In Danish, the surname Lawsen can also be an occupational name for a chimney sweep, from the Danish verb loews, which in turn may be derived from the German verb leuchsen, both meaning "to lighten."
Lastly, the surname Lawsen is closely related to the surname Lawman with both surnames being derived from the Old English personal name Law. It may also be related to surnames such as Lowman, Lowsman,Lewman, Lewsmanson, Lusman, and Lewsman.
Famous people with the name Lawsen
- Kathryn Lawsen: Actress, known for her roles in Passengers and Lady Bird.
- Patricide Lawsen: Actor and Producer, known for his roles in I Feel Pretty and Life of the Party.
- Brandon Lawsen: Actor, known for his roles in A Million Little Things and This Is Us.
- John Lawsen: Writer and Comedian, known for his work on Saturday Night Live.
- Stuart Lawsen: Actor and Voice Actor, known for his roles in Penguins of Madagascar and The Boxtrolls.
- Douglas Lawsen: Musician and Composer, known for his work on The Last Days of Left Eye and According to Jim.
- Thomas Lawsen: Actor and Director, known for his roles in Desperate Housewives and The Good Wife.
- Mark Lawsen: Actor and Producer, known for his roles in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and McDonald's:enjoy them.
- Kiki Lawsen: Singer/Songwriter and Recording Artist, known for her solo albums and her collaborations with various artists.
- Matt Lawsen: Actor, known for his roles in True Blood and The Vampire Diaries.