Lawson is a strong and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the surname Lawson, which has an occupational background. The name Lawson originally referred to a person who worked as a law enforcer or a bailiff, someone responsible for collecting debts and enforcing legal decisions.
The surname Lawson can be traced back to the Middle Ages in England, where it was first recorded in the early 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "hlaw", which means "mound" or "hill", combined with the suffix "-son", meaning "son of". Therefore, Lawson could literally mean "son of someone who lives on a hill".
The use of Lawson as a given name is more recent. It started to gain popularity in the late 19th century and early 20th century, particularly in the United States. Today, it is considered a unisex name, although it is still more commonly used for males.
In literature and popular culture, Lawson has been used as a character name in various works, including the novel "The Killer Inside Me" by Jim Thompson and the television series "Law & Order". These appearances may have contributed to its popularity as a given name.
Overall, Lawson is a robust and unique name with an interesting history rooted in medieval English society. Its occupational origins provide it with a practical and earthy character, while its unisex nature allows for versatility in naming choices.
The name Lawson has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past century, particularly in the United States. Between 1880 and 1930, the number of newborns named Lawson ranged from a low of 8 births in 1893 to a high of 79 births in 1922, with an average of around 50 births per year during this period.
However, starting in the 1940s, there was a decline in the number of newborns named Lawson. Between 1940 and 1960, the number of births ranged from a low of 20 births in 1965 to a high of 47 births in 1955, with an average of around 35 births per year during this period.
Despite this decline, Lawson has remained relatively steady in popularity throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. Between 1960 and 2023, the number of newborns named Lawson ranged from a low of 15 births in 1978 to a high of 896 births in 2021, with an overall trend of increasing popularity over this period.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there have been 16,916 newborns named Lawson in the United States. While the name's popularity has fluctuated over time, it has remained a consistent choice for parents throughout history.