Lesney

Lesney is a British surname with a rich history dating back several centuries. The origin of the name can be traced to the village of Lesney in the county of Kent, England. The surname is thought to be of Old English origin, derived from the words "les", meaning pasture or meadow, and "ey", meaning island or dry ground in a marsh.

The Lesney surname gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly due to the founders of Lesney Products, a British toy company known for creating the popular Matchbox die-cast toy cars. Leslie Smith and Rodney Smith, who were brothers-in-law, established the company in 1947 and named it after a type of matchbox that was originally produced by the company.

Lesney Products became world-renowned for its miniature cars and other toys, with Matchbox cars becoming a staple in the toy industry. The Lesney surname became synonymous with quality, innovation and creativity in the toy manufacturing sector.

Today, the Lesney surname continues to be borne by descendants of the original founders, as well as by individuals with ancestral ties to the Kent region. The legacy of the Lesney name lives on through the continued popularity of Matchbox cars and the impact of Lesney Products on the toy industry.

Sorry, we don't have any statistics on this name. That's probably because it's very uncommon in Britain.

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Shaun

Female

  • Maria

Similar and related surnames

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

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