Lawaan is derived from a tree called “LAWAAN”.  It is a tall and large tree that can attain a height of about 50 meters and a diameter of about 2 meters. It’s also frequently called Philippine Mahogany. Due to its abundance in the area, the people named their barangay “Lawaan”.  The barangay was once a part of the Municipality of Liloy but later became a part of the created Municipality of Tampilisan, Zamboanga Del Norte in 1978. The total land area of the base on the foregoing technical description is 1,074.50008 hectares 10,037 taxable.​

 

      At present, Barangay Lawaan is inhabited by more than a thousand individuals from different ethnicities but dominated by Subanens and Cebuanos. The barangay’s road is connected to the provincial road by a distance of 6km. It has a Day Care Center and a complete primary school. The barangay produces agricultural products such as corn, rice, coconut, rubber and bananas.