Lawless may have been a member of the Lawless family of east Leinster, who were notable Anglo-Norman settlers in the south County Dublin/north County Wicklow area from the 1220s.
The area between the town of Wicklow and Newcastle McKynegan was later known as Lawless County.
In 1271, Aed son of Comarba Comain O Conchobair was killed by Thomas Butler at Muine Ingine Crechain.
Domnall O Flainn was killed by the son of Robin Laigles on the same day, at the southern end of Shrule.
Members of the Lawless family of Connacht would later hold lands "in the west of County Mayo, broadly in the area between Castlebar and Westport, with claims on Inishbofin and Inishark and a relationship with the Manor of Loughrea in County Galway.