Lawson is a Scots-English surname that may sometimes also be a given name.

Creative professionals

Actors

* Ben Lawson (born 1980), Australian actor * Bianca Lawson, American actress *

Charles Lawson Quintin Charles Devenish Lawson (born 17 September 1959) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He is best known for playing Jim McDonald (Coronation Street), Jim McDonald on the long running ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. ...

, Belfast actor *

Denis Lawson Denis Stamper Lawson (born 27 September 1947) is a Scottish actor. He is known for his roles as Wedge Antilles in the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy (1977–1983) and as John Jarndyce in the television miniseries ''Bleak House'' (2005), the l ...

, Scottish actor * Jayme Lawson, American actress * Maggie Lawson, American actress * The Lawson family (Ted, Joan, Vicki, Jamie), a fictional family from ''

Small Wonder (TV series) ''Small Wonder'' is an American comedy science fiction sitcom that aired in first-run syndication from September 7, 1985, to May 20, 1989. The show chronicles the family of a robotics engineer who secretly creates a robot modeled after a human ...

Artists

* Adelaide Lawson (1889–1986), American artist * Cecil Gordon Lawson, English landscape painter * Louise Lawson (1860s–1899), American sculptor *

Nigella Lawson Nigella Lucy Lawson (born 6 January 1960) is an English food writer and television cook. After graduating from Oxford, Lawson worked as a book reviewer and restaurant critic, later becoming the deputy literary editor of ''The Sunday Times'' in ...

(born 1960), British writer and cook * Jim Lawson (comics) (born 1960), American comic book artist * Jordan Lawson, actor and musician from The Flys (US band) * Kenneth Lawson (artist) (1920–2008), English artist and set designer

Journalists

Dominic Lawson Dominic Ralph Campden Lawson (born 17 December 1956) is a British journalist. Background Lawson was born to a Jewish family, the elder son of Conservative politician Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby and his first wife, socialite Vanessa Sa ...

, British journalist; brother of Nigella, son of Nigel *

Mark Lawson Mark Gerard Lawson is an English journalist, broadcaster and author. Specialising in culture and the arts, he is best known for presenting the flagship BBC Radio 4 arts programme '' Front Row'' between 1998 and 2014. He is also a '' Guardian'' ...

, British journalist, broadcaster and author *

Neal Lawson Neal Lawson (born 1963) is a British political commentator and organiser. Lawson was born in and brought up in Bexleyheath, South East London. He became interested in politics through his father, who was a printer in Fleet Street and joined the ...

, British political commentator and writer * Sylvia Lawson (1932–2017), Australian journalist, academic and author * W. R. Lawson William Ramage Lawson (1840–1922), British journalist, economics writer

Writers

Henry Lawson Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson (17 June 1867 – 2 September 1922) was an Australian writer and bush poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period ...

, Australian writer and poet * Joan Lawson (1907–2002), English ballet dancer and writer *

Louisa Lawson Louisa Lawson (née Albury; 17February 184812August 1920) was an Australian poet, writer, publisher, Suffragette, suffragist, and feminist. She was the mother of the poet and author Henry Lawson. Early life Louisa Albury was born on 17 Februa ...

, Australian poet, writer, publisher, suffragist, feminist, and mother of Henry Lawson * Shayla Lawson, American writer and poet * Will Lawson (1876–1957), Australian writer and poet

Educators

Abercrombie Lawson Abercrombie Anstruther Lawson (13 September 1870 – 26 March 1927) was a botanist, foundation professor of botany at the University of Sydney. Early life Lawson was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the fourth son of William Lawson, a sailor a ...

(1870–1927), Canadian-born professor of botany in Australia *

Andrew Lawson Andrew Cowper Lawson (July 25, 1861 – June 16, 1952) was a Scots-born Canadian geologist who became professor of geology at the University of California, Berkeley. He was the editor and co-author of the 1908 report on the 1906 San Francisco ...

, professor of geology, University of California, author of report on the 1906 San Francisco earthquake

Politicians

* Al Lawson, Florida state senator * B. J. Lawson (William Lawson, born 1974), 2008 Republican Party nominee in North Carolina * James Earl Lawson (politician) (1891–1950), Canadian politician and lawyer *

Harry Lawson (politician) Sir Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson KCMG (5 March 1875 – 12 June 1952), was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Victoria from 1918 to 1924. He later entered federal politics, serving as a Senator for Victoria from 1929 to ...

(1875–1952), premier of Victoria, Australia * Jack Lawson (1881–1965), British trade unionist and Labour politician *

Nigel Lawson Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, (11 March 1932 – 3 April 2023) was a British politician and journalist. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Member of Parliament for Blaby in Leicestershire from 1974 to 1992, and served ...

(1932–2023), British Conservative politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1983–1989 * Peter Lawson (politician), Canadian Member of Parliament *

Ray Lawson Frank Ray Lawson (August 30, 1886 – April 4, 1980), was the List of lieutenant governors of Ontario#Lieutenant Governors of Ontario, 1867-present, 17th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Canada, from 1946 to 1952. Born in London, Ontario, Londo ...

, Canadian industrialist, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario * Iver Lawson (publisher) (1821–1871), Illinois publisher politician *

Terra Lawson-Remer Terra Eve Lawson-Remer (born July 1978) is an American educator and politician serving as vice chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party (US), Democratic Party, she has represented District 3 ...

, American politician, economist, and professor * Tom Lawson, Green Party candidates, 2004 Canadian federal election#Tom Lawson (Prince Edward—Hastings) * Valarie Lawson (born 1966), American politician

Scientists

* H. Blaine Lawson, American mathematician * Harry John Lawson, British engineer and motor industry pioneer * Isaac Lawson (died 1747), Scottish physician, friend of

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

* Marmaduke Alexander Lawson (1840–1896), British botanist * Todd Lawson, professor of Islamic thought

Sportspeople

* Alex Lawson, American tennis player * Bob Lawson, American baseball player *

Carl Lawson (American football) Carl Lawson (born June 29, 1995) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers. Early life Lawson attended Milton High School in Milton, Georgia. He had 87 tackles and 15 sacks as a juni ...

(born 1995), American football player * Dedric Lawson (born 1997), American basketball player * Dillon Lawson, American baseball coach *

Eddie Lawson Eddie Ray Lawson (born March 11, 1958) is an American former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from to . A four-time FIM 500cc road racing world champion, Lawson is prominent f ...

, motorcycle racer * Henry Lawson (cricketer) (1865–1941), New Zealand cricketer *

Jermaine Lawson Jermaine Jay Charles Lawson (born 13 January 1982) is a former professional cricketer. A fast bowler from Jamaica, he played at Test and One Day International (ODI) level for the West Indies during the early 2000s, becoming the fourth West India ...

, West Indian Test Cricketer * Jim Lawson (American football) (1902–1989), college and professional football player * Jim Lawson (sports executive), Canadian businessman and lawyer, with Canadian Football League and Jockey Club of Canada * Jimmy Lawson (English footballer) (born 1947), English professional footballer * Jimmy Lawson (Scottish footballer) (1886–1962), with Dundee FC, later golfer in the USA *

Kara Lawson Kara Marie Lawson (born February 14, 1981) is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team. She played professionally in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) a ...

(born 1981), American basketball player and television analyst, assistant coach for the Boston Celtics * Liam Lawson (born 2002), New Zealand racing driver * Patricia Lawson (1929–2019), Canadian multi-sport athlete and coach * Peter Lawson (cricketer) (born 1981), English cricket player * Tom Lawson (ice hockey) (born 1979), Canadian ice hockey player * Ty Lawson (born 1987), American professional basketball player

Other

* Alfred Lawson, 20th century American aviator, reformer, utopian and religious leader * Charlie Lawson, responsible for Murder of the Lawson family * Gaines Lawson, American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient * Kenneth Lawson, law professor and former lawyer * Len Lawson (1927–2003), Australian comic book creator, rapist and murderer * Louise M. Lawson (1855–1951), American temperance activist *

Theresa Lawson Theresa Rose Lawson (nee Emmett; 20 February 1951 – 2 June 2014) was an Australian convicted fraudster. She was a Woolworths (supermarket), Woolworths payroll clerk and St Marys Band Club Director (business), director, who stole more than A$2.7 ...

(1951–2014), Australian convicted of embezzlement

Similar names

* Edward Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Edward C. Lawson, African-American civil rights activist :* Edward M. Lawson, Canadian senator :* Ellie Lawson, UK Singer Songwriter * Geoff Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Geoff Lawson (cricketer) (born 1957), Australian cricketer :* Geoff Lawson (designer) (1944–1999), British car designer * James Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :*

James Lawson (activist) James Morris Lawson Jr. (September 22, 1928 – June 9, 2024) was an American activist and university professor. He was a leading theoretician and tactician of nonviolence within the Civil Rights Movement. During the 1960s, he served as a men ...

(born 1928), nonviolence tactician in the American Civil Rights Movement :* James Lawson (Australian doctor) (born 1934), Australian public health doctor and scientist :* James Lawson (footballer) (born 1987), English professional footballer :* James Lawson (swimmer) (born 1995), Zimbabwean swimmer :* James Anthony Lawson (1817–1887), judge of Queen's Bench, Ireland :* Earl Lawson (politician), Canadian Member of Parliament :* James Gilchrist Lawson (1874–1946), British Christian author and compiler :* James Lawson Drummond (1783–1853), Irish physician, naturalist and botanist :* James Rupert Lawson (1918–1985), American anti-Imperialist activist and black nationalist :* James Raymond Lawson (1915–1996), African-American physicist and president of Fisk University * Jeff Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Jeff Lawson, co-founder of distributed.net :* Jeff Lawson, co-founder and CEO of twilio :* Jeff Lawson (footballer) (born 1944), Australian rules footballer * Jerry Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Jerry Lawson (engineer) (1940–2011), American electronic engineer :* Jerry Lawson (musician) (1944–2019), American singer and music producer :* Jerry Lawson (runner) (born 1966), American long-distance runner * John Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* John Lawson (Australian politician) (1897–1956) :* John Lawson (Australian rules footballer) (1883–1958), Australian rules footballer for Collingwood, St Kilda and Richmond :* John Lawson (children's author) (1923–1993), also known as John S. "Jack" Lawson, of New York and Virginia :* John Lawson (cyclist) (1872–1902), Swedish cycling champion :* John Lawson (explorer) (1674–1711), English explorer in colony of North Carolina :* John Lawson (footballer) (1925–1990), English footballer :* John Lawson (naval officer) (c. 1615–1665), English Naval Officer and Republican :* John Lawson (Medal of Honor) (1837–1919), U.S. Navy sailor :* John D. Lawson (politician) (1816–1896), U.S. Representative from New York :* John D. Lawson (scientist) (1923–2008), British plasma physicist, developed ''Lawson criterion'' :*

John Howard Lawson John Howard Lawson (September 25, 1894 – August 11, 1977) was an American playwright, screenwriter, arts critic, and cultural historian. After enjoying a relatively successful career writing plays that were staged on and off Broadway in the 192 ...

(1894–1977), American writer :* Sir John Grant Lawson, 1st Baronet (1856–1919), British Unionist politician :* John K. Lawson (1886–1941), Senior Canadian officer during the Battle of Hong Kong, World War II :* John K. Lawson (artist) (born 1962), British-American artist :*

John Parker Lawson John Parker Lawson (died 1852) was a minister or deacon of the Episcopal Church of Scotland and an ecclesiastical historian. Life Ordained a minister in the Episcopal Church of Scotland, he was for some time a chaplain in the British Army. Later ...

(died 1852), clergyman of the Episcopal Church of Scotland and historian :* John R. Lawson (died 1945), Colorado union leader :* John W. Lawson (1837–1905), U.S. Representative from Virginia * Joseph Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Joseph Lawson (cricketer) (1893–1969), English cricketer who played one first-class match for Gloucestershire :* Joseph Lawson (trainer) (1881–1964), British racehorse trainer :* Joseph William Lawson (1844–1920), English organist and composer * Paul Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Paul Lawson (boxer) (born 1966), British boxer :* Paul Lawson (footballer) (born 1984), Scottish footballer :* Paul M. Lawson (1914–1988), American politician * Robert Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :*

Robert Lawson (architect) Robert Arthur Lawson (1 January 1833 – 3 December 1902) was one of New Zealand's pre-eminent 19th century architecture, architects. The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography states that he did more than any other designer to shape the face ...

, 19th century New Zealand architect :*

Robert Lawson (author) Robert Lawson (October 4, 1892 – May 27, 1957) was an American writer and artist, best known for his work as an author and illustrator of children's literature. Lawson won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1941 for his illustrations in '' Th ...

, writer and illustrator :* Robert D. Lawson (1926–2015), American nuclear scientist * Thomas Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :* Thomas Lawson, fullback for the

2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team The 2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Callahan (football coach), Bill Callahan and played their home games at Me ...

Thomas Lawson (artist) Thomas Lawson (born 1951, Glasgow, Scotland) is an artist, writer, editor, and from 1991 to 2022 was the Dean of the School of Art & Design at California Institute of the Arts.Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art"Oral history intervi ...

(born 1951), artist, writer and dean of California Institute of the Arts :* Thomas Lawson (military physician) (1789–1861), American military physician :*

Thomas Lawson (botanist) Thomas Lawson (1630–1691) was an English botanist and Quaker. Life Lawson was born 10 October 1630 at Lawkland, in the parish of Clapham, Yorkshire, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Lawson. Educated at Giggleswick School, the local grammar schoo ...

(1630–1691), English botanist and Quaker :* E. Thomas Lawson, research scientist at the Institute of Cognition and Culture at Queen's University Belfast :* Thomas B. Lawson (1807–1888), American painter :* Thomas G. Lawson (1835–1912), U.S. Representative from Georgia :* Thomas J. Lawson (born 1957), Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces. :* Thomas R. Lawson, on List of RPI Grand Marshals, 1897–1898 :* Thomas W. Lawson (businessman) (1857–1925), American businessman and author * William Lawson (disambiguation), several people, including :*

William Lawson (banker) William Lawson (1772 – 25 August 1848) was a Nova Scotian businessman, office holder, justice of the peace, and politician. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and baptised on the 14th of March 1772. He was the son of John Lawson and Sa ...

(1772–1848), Scottish businessman and politician :* William Lawson (co-operator) (1836–1916), co-operator and agriculturalist :*

William Lawson (explorer) William Lawson, (2 June 1774 – 16 June 1850) was a British soldier, explorer, land owner, grazier and politician who migrated to Sydney, New South Wales in 1800. Along with Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth, he pioneered the 1813 cross ...

(1774–1850), explorer of New South Wales, Australia :*

William Lawson (priest) William Lawson (c.1554–1635) was an English cleric, known as a writer on gardening. Life Lawson was a graduate of Christ Church, Oxford, and vicar of Ormesby, North Riding of Yorkshire from 1583. Works Lawson wrote a two-part work, ''A New Orc ...

(c.1554–1635), English cleric and writer on gardening :* William Lawson (speedway rider) (born 1987), Scottish speedway rider

Lawson as given name

* Lawson D. Franklin (1804–1861), American planter, slave trader and businessman * Lawson Harvey (1856–1920), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court * Lawson Sabah (born 1997), Ghanaian footballer * Lawson C. Tosh (born 1879), American politician from Maryland * Lawson Wulsin (born 1951), a psychiatrist and author * Lawson Wilkins, pediatric endocrinologist; founded clinic based at Johns Hopkins