Lawford
A locational surname referring to someone from the English place name Lawford.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Lawford. That puts it at #152,628 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lawford 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
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#152,628
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Lawford in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152628th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lawford, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.5%) and Hispanic (4.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lawford
The surname Lawford is of English origin, derived from a place name located in the county of Essex. The name is believed to have originated in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
Lawford is a compound word formed from the Old English words "hlaw" meaning "hill" or "mound" and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing or ford. It refers to a settlement or village located near a ford across a river, situated on or near a hill or mound.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lawford appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a manor in Essex called "Lauuafort," which is believed to be the modern-day Lawford.
In the 13th century, records show a William de Lawford, who was a landowner and knight from the village of Lawford in Essex. Another early example is John Lawford, who was a member of the Parliament of England in 1322, representing the county of Essex.
During the 16th century, the surname Lawford began to spread beyond its place of origin as people migrated to other parts of England. One notable figure was William Lawford (c. 1535-1609), an English Protestant clergyman and author who served as the rector of Crambrook in Kent.
In the 17th century, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as Lauford, Lawforde, and Lawforth appearing in historical records. Robert Lawford (1616-1693) was an English politician who served as a member of the House of Commons and was a supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.
In more recent times, the surname Lawford has been associated with several notable individuals, including the American actor Peter Lawford (1923-1984), who was a member of the famous Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Another famous bearer of the name was the English actress and author Patricia Lawford (1923-2004), who was married to Peter Lawford's cousin.
Overall, the surname Lawford has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, and its origins can be traced back to the Norman Conquest and the Domesday Book. While the name has spread throughout England and beyond over the centuries, its earliest recorded examples remain firmly connected to the village of Lawford in Essex.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lawford
Among Census respondents with the surname Lawford, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.5%) and Hispanic (4.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Lawford 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 Lawford surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White72.9%
- Black or African American21.5%
- Hispanic or Latino4.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lawford 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #152,628 | #152,628 | 0.0% |
| Count | 107 | 107 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Lawford bearers went from 107 to 107 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #152,628.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lawford
FAQ
Lawford surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lawford?
The surname Lawford holds position #152,628 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lawford surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lawford, the largest self-reported group is White at 72.9%. The next largest groups are Black (21.5%) and Hispanic (4.7%). 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.