Green’s Dictionary of Slang

an abbr. version of SE Lord, usu. as excl. in its own right, but also used as n. in variety of excl. and mild oaths.

1830		Lytton Paul Clifford I 130: Vy, laus-a-me! If you be n’t knocked o’ the head!
1840		Comic Almanack Aug. 233: But, O lor!
1854		Thackeray Newcomes I 119: Julia the cook will exclaim, ‘Lor’, it’s Mr. Frederick.’.
1860		‘George Eliot’ Mill on the Floss (1985) VI 500: Lors! I’m no better not a tilted bottle I arn’t.
1863		Story of a Lancashire Thief 8: Lor now! you’ve no idea of what a trade Mother — does in these wipes!
1874		F.C. Burnand My Time 376: ‘Lor!’ replied Marmy, ‘he knows everything that goes on here.’.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May 4/3: Lor! what fits the poor Cabbage Garden would get from our lecture.
1890		Bird o’ Freedom 22 Jan. 1: There was one little fault, one blemish all these charms among— / The lovely rosebud had a thorn—she had, O, lor! she had a tongue.
1900		Marvel 8 Dec. 3: Oh lor! Take everything but don’t kill me!
1910		H.G. Wells Hist. of Mr Polly (1946) 30: ‘Oh Lor!’ he said, and vanished.
1920		E.F. Benson Queen Lucia (1984) 183: Lor, ma’am, it’s none of they – not them great folks.
1930		E. Waugh Vile Bodies 186: ‘Lor’, Miss,’ said the barmaid.
1941		K. Tennant Battlers 151: ‘Lor,’ one of the maids giggled. ‘You don’t mean they’ve broken the door down.’.
1950		A. Christie Murder Is Announced (1958) 118: Lor! [...] we bored each other to death.
1960		Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 57: You might even go so far as ‘Lor’ lumme!’.
1961		‘Frank Richards’ Billy Bunter at Butlins 3: Oh, lor!
1983		A. Payne ‘Get Daley!’ Minder [TV script] 21: Oh dear, oh lor ...
2000		M. Amis Experience 24: But, lor, how much stuff there was about class in those days.