Is he called Lawrence of Arabia because there was another Lawrence of somewhere else?

Answer 1

Yeah, there was a "Lawrence of Welk" and they didn't want people to get confused.

Answer 2

Thomas Edward Lawrence born 16.08.1888 in Tremadog, North Wales. Also known as Ned, TEL, TE Lawrence, Col. Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, TE Shaw, Airman Ross, Private Shaw. He was known by many names and became a legend in his own time. He lived in Dorset when he died as the result of a motorcycle accident on 19.05.1935.
Don't know about a Lawrence of anywhere else!! There is D H Lawrence, the author.

Answer 3

This is purely a named that he was given when the movie was made.

quote ..

Lawrence was incensed. In a letter to Sir Philip Sassoon, under secretary at the Air Ministry, he wrote: "There is just one consideration that might interest me here - a film merchant called Korda, who announces that he proposes to make a film called 'Lawrence of Arabia'.

"Presumably he means me, and I have strong views as to the undesirability of any such film. So I have sent him word that perhaps he ought to discuss his intentions with me before he opens his silly mouth again."

see the link below

Answer 4

Michael.k and Petey have got your question sorted. Incidentally, Lawrence wrote a book called 'The Seven Pillars of Wisdom' worthwhile reading, in my opinion.

Answer 5

It was a name given to him by the people.

There's a parallel incidentially with peerages, which are given for a geographic place. The house of lords for example contains Lord Rogers of Riverside (the achitect who transformed much of the South Bank of London and who wrote the Urban Renaissance Report which informed much of the subsequent urban white paper) and Lord Archer of Weston Super Mare (the former MP who went to prison only to spend his time there writing another book). Members of the house of lords frequently refer to themselves by their first name then title, for example as Jeffrey, Lord Archer or occasionally in the simpler form of Jeffrey, Weston Super Mare.

'Lawrence of arabia' could be seen as an honorific title given by the people rather than the establishment in much of a similar way.

Answer 6

It sounds cool, but I certainly feel sorry for "Lawrence of Somewhere Else"

Answer 7

Lawrence of Surbiton.

Answer 8

No.It was because that's where he did his most heroic work for the British Empire.There is only one Lawrence in that context.

Answer 9

Because it sounds better than "Lawrence of Suburbia!"

Answer 10

No it was to differentiate him from Derek of Arabia