Surname Law - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing My Lineage Through iGENEA DNA Test: The Law's Scottish Heritage And Viking Connections
Unearthing my surname Law's origins and history via the iGENEA DNA test, I discovered a profound connection to medieval Scotland, Norse Vikings, and the Protestant Reformation. The vibrant tapestry of lineage, encounters, and migrations crafted a unique narrative which became a part of my identity.
P. Law
read moreLaw: What does the surname Law mean?
The surname Law is of English and Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Old English word "hlaw,” meaning "hill" or "tumulus," which are small hillocks or mounds used as ancient burial grounds. It was usually given to individuals who lived on or near a hill. There are also possibilities of this last name having a professional origin, referring to someone who worked in the field of law. It is important to note that during the Middle Ages, laws were more customary and traditional rather than statutory, so the term ‘law’ usually referred to someone who was a lawmaker or law enforcer. As surnames evolved, they often reflected an individual's occupation, geographical location, or a notable attribute. So a person named ‘Law’ could have been someone who lived on a hill or someone who had some connection with the local customary laws of the community.
Order DNA origin analysisLaw: Where does the name Law come from?
The surname Law is of Scottish origin and it derived from the Old English word "hlǣw,” which means "hill" or "burial mound." This toponymic surname was traditionally given to individuals who lived on or near a hill.
The surname was also found in early records in northern England, particularly in Northumberland and didn't become significant until around the 16th century. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname is of one Richard de la Lawe, which was dated around 1275, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire."
Today, the surname Law is quite common and can be found in various parts of the world. However, it is particularly common in Scotland and England, following the original areas of settlement. Furthermore, due to historical emigration, the surname also has a high prevalence in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There is also a significant population of people with the surname Law in Hong Kong and other parts of China due to the different Romanization of various Chinese surnames.
Variations of the surname Law
The surname 'Law' is mainly associated with British origin, especially in England, Scotland, and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland. In those regions, the name can be anglicized in numerous ways, including Lawe, Lawes, Laue, Lawa, and Laws. Sometimes, 'McLaw' or 'MacLaw' could be seen in Scotland, indicating of Scottish Gaelic origin.
These variations represent phonetic spellings that would have been created based on how the name was pronounced. Many such variants exist due to differences in regional dialects, poor literacy levels, and immigration records that were completed based on how the name sounded.
The surname 'Law' is also found among the Cantonese community, spelled and pronounced as 'Lau' or 'Lou' due to differences in language transliteration.
In the Jewish Ashkenazi tradition, 'Law' could be derived from the Hebrew name 'Levi', and thus English variants can include 'Levy' and 'Levine'.
Some cognates from different languages include Loi (Italian), Ley or Leu (German), and Loi (French). Note that these are usually not direct equivalents, but rather similar names that could be interpreted in English as 'law'. There might be others with similar meanings in different languages.
Famous people with the name Law
- Jude Law- British actor best known for his roles in “Alfie”, “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, the “Sherlock Holmes” films, “Cold Mountain”, and “Fantastic Beasts” films.
- Ernie Laws- saxophonist who pioneered jazz fusion musi
- Kidada Jones- model, actress, and designer who is the daughter of musician Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton.
- Phoebe Law- Hong Kong actress
- Geoffrey Law- Australian rugby player
- Yune Neville Law- British visual artist, sculptor, and writer
- John Casselman Law- British-born Canadian architect of Georgian Revival style
- Julianne Nicholson- American actress best known for her roles in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, August: Osage County, and Masters of Sex.
- Ester Rantzen- UK broadcaster and television presenter best known for presenting That's Life! from 1973 to 1994
- Simon Cowell- English television music and talent competition judge, entrepreneur, and television producer.