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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lawton

Lawton

♂ Boy

Pronounced LAW-ton /ˈlɔːtən/High

Meaning: From the Old English hlāw (hill, burial mound) and tun (settlement, enclosure), meaning 'settlement on the hill'High

In 30 seconds: Lawton is an Old English surname meaning 'settlement on the hill,' derived from the elements hlāw (hill) and tun (settlement). As a given name it conveys solid, grounded authority — a strong, two-syllable surname-name in the tradition of Clayton, Dalton, and Colton.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningFrom the Old English hlāw (hill, burial mound) and tun (settlement, enclosure), meaning 'settlement on the hill'
U.S. rank (2025)#3280 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births36 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,861

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202118892025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lawton originated as an English place name and subsequently a surname, derived from the Old English elements hlāw (a hill or burial mound) and tun (a settlement or farm). As a surname it was established in medieval England and appears in records from Lancashire and Cheshire. Like many English locative surnames, Lawton transitioned to use as a given name in 19th-century America, following the pattern of surnames like Clayton, Dalton, and Colton being adopted as first names.

The name carries a quiet, rugged Anglo-Saxon strength associated with the American frontier, particularly through its connection to General Henry Ware Lawton. As a given name it has seen modest but steady use, appealing to parents who want a strong, classic surname-name with geographical and historical resonance.

Did you know? Lawton is also the name of a city in southwestern Oklahoma, established in 1901 and named after General Henry Ware Lawton, a Medal of Honour recipient from the American Civil War and Spanish-American War.
Overall data confidence 90%
Reaney, P.H. — A Dictionary of English Surnames — Old English etymology of Lawton from hlāw + tunU.S. Board on Geographic Names — Lawton, Oklahoma — history and naming after General Lawton

Variations

Lawtyn

Nicknames

LawLawtyTon

Famous Bearers

  • ★Henry Ware Lawton (1843–1899)
    U.S. Army general and Civil War Medal of Honor recipient who later served in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars, with the city of Lawton, Oklahoma, named in his honour.

If you like Lawton…

Dalton— Old English -ton surname-name with the same frontier American sound
Colton— popular Old English -ton surname name in the same naming family
Clayton— Old English clay + tun, parallel construction to Lawton
Langston— echoes that soft -on sound
Eldon— another surname-name pick

Explore names like Lawton

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lawton mean?

Lawton is an Old English name meaning 'settlement on the hill,' derived from hlāw (hill) and tun (settlement). It originated as a place name and later a surname.

How do you pronounce Lawton?

Lawton is pronounced LAW-ton /ˈlɔːtən/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Lawton a boy or girl name?

Lawton is used exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Lawton?

Lawton is an uncommon given name in the US, appealing to parents who favour strong Old English surname-names in the tradition of Dalton and Colton.

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