Laurence is an English male given name and surname. In all cases it is derived from the Roman given name, Laurentius, which can mean either "from Laurentum" or "wreathed/crowned with laurel. My mother named me after characters in one of the favorite books of her childhood: 'Little Women' (Louisa May Alcott) where there is a man named 'Mr. Laurence' and the boy named 'Laurie' (my nick-name).