Surname Leither - Meaning and Origin
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Leither: What does the surname Leither mean?
The last name Leither is derived from the Scottish surname Leith, and refers to someone from Leith, a port city near Edinburgh, Scotland. Authorities believe that the surname Leither originated in Belgium, as there is evidence of the name being used there during the 16th century. The name is also thought to have its roots in the Dutch surname Leyte, which can be translated as "one from the sea".
The Leithers were a seafaring people and so it's likely that the name refers to a person associated with working or travelling on the sea or a sea-faring tradesman. Examples of seafaring trades included fishermen, whalers, shipwrights, boatbuilders, and merchants.
It is also possible that the Leither name is a variant of the English family name 'Leith', which originated save for the port town in which it was derived and would have been used to describe someone from the Leith area. The Leith name likely is derived from the Old English word "leah", meaning a grassy clearing in a forest, or in some cases a sandy riverbank.
Throughout the centuries, the Leithers have remained closely associated with their Scottish roots, with many making their way back to the port city of Leith and the places nearby. Today, the Leithers are still proud of their identity and some can still be seen in cities throughout Scotland, with numerous descendants of the original Leithers still living in Edinburgh and its surrounding area.
Order DNA origin analysisLeither: Where does the name Leither come from?
The last name Leither can be commonly found today in the United States, Canada, and Scotland. In the United States, most of those who bear the last name are concentrated in the midwest with Wisconsin showing significant numbers of Leithers in the 2000 United States Census. According to this same Census, other states such as Illinois and Minnesota have also seen growth in the last name in recent decades. In Canada, the majority of those with the surname are found in the province of Ontario, specifically Toronto and Ottawa.
Furthermore, Scotland is the homeland of the Leithers, having first been recorded there as early as the 12th century. The Clan Leither has a strong presence in Edinburgh, Fife, and the Scottish Borders. The majority of those who bear the last name in Scotland are of Scots-Irish descent. The Leithers have a large presence in Scotland in comparison to other parts of the world and have been active members of the local community there for centuries.
The last name Leither today is found all across the world, with the largest concentrations of people being those in the United States and Scotland. With the Clan Leither’s long-standing ties to Scottish culture, the last name is likely to remain a prominent choice for those seeking an interesting and meaningful heritage.
Variations of the surname Leither
The surname Leither is derived from the Old French word l'escher, which means woodsman or hunter. A variety of spellings and variants are found for the surname in some countries, including Leiter, Layther, Lither, Lithar, Leddar, Leader, Leeder, Lether, Lethers, Littar, and Lettar.
In Germany, for example, the spelling Leither is also known as Lehter, Legeter, Leheder, and Lehetor. In Scotland, the surname was recorded in various forms including Laidlaw, Lether, Lither, Layder, and Littlar.
In France, the name L'Eschar was anglicised to Lether or Leader, a spelling found in some church records. A number of variations of the name are also found in German church records, including Lenther and Lender.
In the United States, many people with the surname Lither are descended from German immigrants who arrived in the early 1700s. This spelling is also found in other countries, including England, Australia, and South Africa.
While most of the people with the surname Leither are of German, French, or Scottish ancestry, some family members may have originated from other countries. In some cases, the spelling "Leither" may have been adopted by families of other ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, some individuals may have chosen to Anglicize their traditional surnames to Leither. With such a variety of origins and spellings, it is likely that many families with the surname Leither have quite a diverse history.
Famous people with the name Leither
- Nick Leither: A British Paralympic athlete, specialising in Wheelchair Fencing. He has competed in international competitions since 2013, and is a six-time Paralympic and World Cup medallist.
- Jelisa Leither: A contemporary American artist, known for exhibiting her work at galleries all over the US. Her artwork explores themes of identity, place, and family.
- Stuart Leither: A British actor, best known for his roles in theater and television, such as "Downton Abbey" and "The Crown".
- William Leither: An American entrepreneur and inventor, he is best known as the founder of the famous computer hardware company, Apple Computers.
- Brian Leither: A professional American golfer, he has won numerous awards including the PGA Championship.
- David Leither: An American visual artist, he has created many works of art including photographs, sculptures, and installations. His work discusses topics related to the environment, the human condition, and memory.
- Christopher Leither: A British musician, he is best known for his work in the progressive rock band, King Crimson.
- John Leither: An American professional basketball player, he was a part of the legendary Golden State Warriors team from 1969-1973.
- Paula Leither: A German Olympic swimmer, she competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and won a silver medal in the 400 m Individual Medley.
- Sarah Leither: A Canadian journalist and author, she is the author of multiple books that target topics such as politics, gender, and society.