LEIGH

Leigh is a surname of English origin, derived from the Old English word leah, which denotes a clearing or meadow. The name is therefore associated with a connection to natural open spaces and could have been used to describe a person dwelling near such a feature.

The surname is a quintessential example of a topographical name, one of the earliest types of surnames created in medieval England. In the small communities of the Middle Ages, such names were easily recognisable and provided a convenient way of identifying individuals. In addition to its topographical use, Leigh functions also as a locational surname, indicating that the bearer originated from one of the several English places that bear the name. Notable examples of such places include those in Berkshire, Cheshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, which appear in the Domesday Book of 1086 with the spellings Lege, Lega, and Lalege; and the name in Lancashire, recorded as Leeche in the Cockersand Chartulary of 1276.

The surname has appeared in many variations throughout history. Recorded forms include Lay, Lea, Lee, Lees, Leese, Leigh, Leighe, Leagh, as well as rarer versions such as Lahee, Leagas, Leage, League and Leyh. The earliest extant record of the family name is that of Ailric de la Leie, dated 1148 in the volume titled Early Charters from Northamptonshire, which was compiled during the reign of King Stephen, who was also known as the Count of Blois from 1135 to 1154.

Prominent bearers of the surname include Sir Thomas Leigh, who served as Lord Mayor of London in the year 1558, the first year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First. The Heraldic arms associated with the Leigh family are described in blazon as a gold shield with a red lion rampant, the crest being a hand properly gripped around a broken tilting spear.

Recorded early entries that illustrate the surname’s use include Liffild de Lega of Essex in 1176 and Pagan a la Legh of Yorkshire, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1208. These documents demonstrate how the surname was employed to identify individuals who had departed from their place of birth and settled elsewhere.

Typical given names associated with the Leigh surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Michael
• Peter
• Richard
• Robert
• Simon
• Stephen

Female

• Christine
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Jane
• Jennifer
• Karen
• Margaret
• Mary
• Patricia
• Rebecca
• Sarah
• Susan
• Victoria

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Leigh in...

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Semaphore

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Leigh

• Vivien Leigh - Actress (1913 to 1967)
• Mike Leigh - Writer and director of film and theatre
• Jennifer Jason Leigh - American actress
• Augusta Leigh - Sister of Lord Byron (1783 to 1851)
• Edward Leigh - Politician
• Trafford Leigh-Mallory - Military officer during World Wars I and II (1892 to 1944)
• Janet Leigh - American actress (1927 to 2004)
• Suzanna Leigh - Actress (1945 to 2017)
• Greg Leigh - Football player
• Roberta Leigh - Novelist, television writer and painter (1926 to 2014)
• Vera Leigh - SOE agent (1903 to 1944)
• Elizabeth Medora Leigh - Byron Family (1814 to 1849)
• David Leigh - Scientist
• Geoff Leigh - Musician
• Ed Leigh - Sports presenter
• Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley - Politician
• Spencer Leigh - Radio presenter
• Adele Leigh - Operatic soprano (1928 to 2004)
• Eve Leigh - Theatre director
• William Gerard Leigh - Polo executive (1915 to 2008)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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