Lauriston
A locational surname derived from a location near Edinbugh, Scotland.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Lauriston. That puts it at #87,335 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lauriston surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#87,335
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
213
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 213 bearers of the surname Lauriston in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 87335th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lauriston, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lauriston
The surname Lauriston is of Scottish origin, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the lands of Lauriston in the parish of Monzie, near Crieff in Perthshire. The name itself likely comes from the Gaelic words "lathair" meaning "ruins" or "site of a battle," and "tún" meaning "farm" or "settlement."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lauriston surname can be found in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which mentions a John de Lawrestoun in 1479. This indicates that variations of the spelling, such as Lawrestoun, were in use during the late 15th century.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Lauriston name was David Lauriston, a Scottish minister who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1586. Another prominent individual was Robert Lauriston, a wealthy merchant who lived in Edinburgh in the early 17th century.
The Lauriston surname also has connections to place names in Scotland. For instance, the village of Laurieston in Falkirk likely derived its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname. Additionally, there is a Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh, which was built in the 16th century and served as a residence for several families bearing the Lauriston name.
In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the Lauriston surname was Jacques Alexandre Bernard Law, Marquis de Lauriston (1768-1828), a French general who served under Napoleon. He was born in Pondicherry, India, to a Scottish father and French mother, and his surname was likely influenced by the Scottish Lauriston lineage.
Another figure worth mentioning is Alexander Lauriston (1779-1847), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1834 to 1837. He was instrumental in the development of the city's infrastructure and played a key role in the construction of the Union Canal.
Throughout history, the Lauriston surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including ministers, merchants, landowners, and military personnel. While its roots can be traced back to Scotland, the name has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and historical events.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lauriston
Among Census respondents with the surname Lauriston, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Lauriston bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lauriston surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American93.4%
- Unknown or suppressed3.8%
- White2.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lauriston surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #106,477 | #87,335 | 18.0% |
| Count | 155 | 213 | 37.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.07 | 16.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lauriston bearers went from 155 to 213 (+37.4% change). The surname moved up 19,142 positions in the national ranking, going from #106,477 to #87,335.
FAQ
Lauriston surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lauriston?
The surname Lauriston holds position #87,335 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lauriston surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lauriston, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.4%. The next largest groups are White (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.