Origin of the surname Laurence

Recorded in an amazing range of spellings from the English Laurence and Laurens, to the French Lorent, Laurans, and Laurant, the Italian Lorens, Lorenz, Renzi, and even Nenzi, the Spanish Lorenzo and Lorente, the German Lenz and Frentz, the Polish Wawrzyniec, the Hungarian Lorincz, and many more including diminutives and patronymics, in every European country. The origination however is Roman, from the ancient period before Christianity. It derives from the male given name "Laurentius", which means 'the man from (the Italian city of) Laurentium", otherwise known as the 'city of laurels'.

The laurel as a symbol of victory was probably the principal reason for the popularity of the name, although it is claimed that among Christians it became a favourite name through St. Laurence, the martyrd Archdeacon of Rome, in the mid 3rd Century. There is only one example of the name in the English Domesday Book of 1086, however, a century later and throughout Europe, the name became very popular, giving rise to the recognizable modern surnames of today. Early examples of the surname recording include: Magister Laurentius, given as being a cleric, in the episcopal records of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1195, John Lorence of the county of Suffolk, England, in 1268, and Heinrich Lenz of Alzey, Germany, in 1341. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Laurence. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of laurence is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname laurence, and in addition to the original locations of laurence, we can find out where people with the surname laurence can currently be found.

The surname Laurence around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname laurence. The mobility of people carrying the surname laurence has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Laurence

The historical chronicle of laurence is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname laurence are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname laurence, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname laurence or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of laurence.

Notable Figures Named Laurence

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished laurences throughout human history. A surname like laurence can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Laurence and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of laurence. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname laurence, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of laurence, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Laurence