# etymology/geneology: where does 'Lawson' come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324 "2003-01-08T16:45:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nogginhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5e9695/32.png) [@nogginhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogginhead)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/1 "2003-01-08T16:45:14Z")
Many anglo surnames are contractions of “so-and-so’s son”: Nixon from Nick’s son Dixon and Dickson from Dick’s son etc. Are there other reasons why a name would end in ‘-son’? I have a friend whose last name is Lawson, and I was wondering if his ancestor was named ‘Law’, and if that was a common name at some time. Or is it a greater contraction of something like “lawgiver’s son”? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/2 "2003-01-08T17:08:49Z")
Here’s one take: [http://www.pcisys.net/~drobrtsn/family/lorson/lorsongorigin.html](http://www.pcisys.net/~drobrtsn/family/lorson/lorsongorigin.html) ---
**Author:** ![nogginhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5e9695/32.png) [@nogginhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogginhead)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/3 "2003-01-08T18:29:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > \*\*Here’s one take: > > [http://www.pcisys.net/~drobrtsn/family/lorson/lorsongorigin.html](http://www.pcisys.net/~drobrtsn/family/lorson/lorsongorigin.html) \*\* Nifty. Thanks! Do you think that could be the only derivation? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/4 "2003-01-08T19:28:47Z")
I checked the Norwegian online censuses from 1801 to 1900 and “Lawson/Lawsen” does not appear. It is unlikely to be Scandinavian. If your family came from England, then it probably is a corruption of “Larson/Larssen” (son of Lars) from the Scandinavian conquests. Many English -son names are like this. E.g., Patterson. Without knowing what country, and even better what region of that country, your ancestors came from, it is all speculation. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/5 "2003-01-08T19:30:37Z")
Oops, make that “friend’s ancestors”. ---
**Author:** ![Agback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Agback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/6 "2003-01-09T02:13:04Z")
My guess would be … “Lawson” from “Lewis’s son”. Regards, Agback ---
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/7 "2003-01-09T02:20:50Z")
Or possibly Lawrence’s son? .:Nichol:. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/8 "2003-01-09T12:43:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nogginhead \* > Nifty. Thanks! Do you think that could be the only derivation? Dunno. Best bet for some quick research: your local [LDS Family History Center](http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp). Yes, the Mormons. They have, I am led to believe, some remarkable genealogical resources. You may also be able to find some of what you are looking for at the [web site](http://www.familysearch.org/). ---
**Author:** ![nogginhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5e9695/32.png) [@nogginhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogginhead)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-geneology-where-does-lawson-come-from/147324/9 "2003-01-09T14:49:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nichol\_storm \* > \*\*Or possibly Lawrence’s son? > \*\* I like this one best, but Larson and Lorsong work well enough for me. Nog.