Lawley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 18th and 19th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants landed on North American shores. Although many of them were merely looking for a free plot of land and living of their very own, many later immigrants were desperately fleeing an overcrowded land that did not have sufficient food for its inhabitants. The exodus from Ireland was greatest during the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine had stricken the island. Although this large influx of Irish was unpopular with the great majority of people already established within the major centers, these Irish were critical to the speedy development of the United States and those colonies that would eventually become known as Canada. These immigrants provided the cheap labor required to build modern roads, bridges, canals, and railways. Research of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of immigrants to North America baring the name of Lawley:

Lawley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Thomas Lawley, who landed in Virginia in 1636 2

Lawley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Henry Lawley, who landed in Virginia in 1718 2
• Margaret Lawley, who arrived in Virginia in 1721 2
• Ruth Lawley, who arrived in Virginia in 1721 2
• Richard Lawley, who landed in Georgia in 1741 2

Lawley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Daniel Lawley, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1855 2
• John Lawley, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 2

Lawley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• James Lawley, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 3
• Mr. Thomas Lawley, (b. 1811), aged 23, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
• Mr. James Lawley, English convict who was convicted in Birmingham, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
• Patrick Lawley, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 6
• Mr. Thomas Lawley, (b. 1819), aged 25, English farm labourer from Ashley, Worcestershire, England who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7

• First Lieutenant William R Lawley Jr., American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
• William R. Lawley Jr. (1920-1999), United States Army Air Forces officer
• Sir Robert Lawley (1736-1793), 5th Baronet English landowner and politician
• Robert Lawley (1768-1834), 1st Baron Wenlock, British landowner and politician
• Sir Francis Lawley (1630-1696), 2nd Baronet, politician and courtier
• Francis Charles Lawley (1825-1901), British journalist and politician
• Beilby Lawley (1849-1912), 3rd Baron Wenlock, English nobleman
• Beilby Lawley (1818-1880), 2nd Baron Wenlock, English nobleman
• Arthur Lawley (1860-1932), 6th Baron Wenlock, Governor of Western Australia from 1901–02