Recorded as Lacon, Lakin, Laken, and possibly others, this is an English surname, but possibly in some cases of foreign origins. The English origination is said to be from the very popular medieval personal name Lawrence, a name introduced into England by returning Crusaders from the Holy Land in the 12th century. It developed several nickname or short forms of which this as Lal or La with the diminutive "-kin", being one of them. Lawrence means the man from Laurentium, a town in Italy famous for its laurels, the symbol of victory. The second origin is from Leyke, a form of the Hebrew female given name 'Leye or Lea' meaning gazelle, again with the suffix '-kin'. This is also thought to be a Crusader introduction. Thirdly the name name be French and a transposition of La Conte or Laconte, Mary Laconte marrying Adrian Bazire at St James Church, Dukes Place, Westminster, on September 15th 1683. Other examples are those of William Lakin, who married Jone Nix at Weeford, Staffordshire, on November 3rd 1567, and Ann Lacon the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Lacon, who was christened at St Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, on March 1st 1695. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.