Surname Lessley - Meaning and Origin

Lessley: What does the surname Lessley mean?

The last name Lessley is an Anglo-Saxon name first found in the counties of Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, and Yorkshire. It is thought to be a form of the old English word ‘leas’, which is an Anglo-Saxon word that means clearing in a forest or a grove. The name is believed to have been derived from particular topographical features found in the area, which the original family lived in.

The Lessley family can trace their ancestry back to the 12th century when they arrived in Great Britain as a part of an extended line of Norman invaders. The surname is thought to have flourished and gained influence in the west of Scotland in what is now known as the county of Renfrewshire, where members of the Lessley family held considerable power and status.

The Lessley surname has been found in multiple countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. In Scotland, the Lessley's were among the most prominent families in the west of the country, and many branches of the family spread out from there. In England, they could be found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, and in Ireland, they were involved mainly in the county of Clare.

Today the surname Lessley can be found in multiple countries around the world. The name is still commonly seen in its original form in Scotland, but it is also seen in various forms in other countries, such as Leslie in Northern England, Lesley in the US, and similar variants in Australia and Canada.

Lessley: Where does the name Lessley come from?

The last name Lessley is common today mainly in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Lessley family name was the 44,294th most popular name in the country in 2020.

In particular, the last name is popular in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The most concentrated areas of people with the Lessley name in these states are in Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, Anne Arundel County, and Harford County in Maryland, Fairfax County and Alexandria, Virginia; and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

Lessley is an English last name which probably originates from a place name. It is derived from Old English lǣss, meaning “clearing”. As such, the Lessley family name likely originated from a place called Lower Leys or Lessley.

The Lessley family first appeared in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages and the name migrated to the United States during the mid-1800s. It is likely that family members of this surname were among the first colonizers of the United States, arriving in the early 1600s. Today, there are thousands of descendants scattered throughout the United States tracing their lineage back to the Lessley family.

Variations of the surname Lessley

Variants of the Lessley surname include Lesley, Lesly, Leslea, Leasly, Lisle, and Lesslie. There are also spelling variations, such as Leasly, Lesely, Leslye, and Lesleye.

The Lessley surname is of Scottish origin and is an anglicized form of MacFhleisdeir, which is a personal name. The Gaelic version of this name is Macleisdeir or MacLeosdeir, meaning “son of the servant or helper of Jesus”. This is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from a paternal ancestor’s personal name. The Lessley surname is also an Anglicization of the Gaelic MacLaesdeir, which translates as “son of the servant of Lazarus”.

This is an ancient name that can be traced back to the 13th century in North Aberdeenshire. During the mid-16th century, the Lessley family moved to Ayrshire and established a presence there.

Other variants of the Lessley surname include Leasley, Lleslie, Llesly, Lleslye, Laslie, Lasley, Laysley, Layslie, Laslea, Laycey, Laisley, and Laysee. These spellings are a result of the phonetic variations of the name as it has been passed down through the generations. As the surname is of Scottish origin, it is not surprising that some of the spellings are unique to Scotland.

The Lessley surname is fairly common and can be found throughout Scotland, England, Canada, Ireland, and the United States. In fact, many of these countries boast high numbers of Lessleys, especially Scotland. The Lessley surname also has a presence in other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Famous people with the name Lessley

• Shirley Lessley: British businesswoman; a founder of the all-women chain of educational traveling schools, Student Prince.
• Steve Lessley: American-born English actor best known for his roles in the comedy-drama films A Very British Coup and The Dressmaker.
• Jack Lessley: British Olympic swimmer competing in the 1900 Summer Olympics.
• William Lessley: British footballer playing for West Bromwich Albion in the late 19th century.
• Robert Lessley: American professional baseball player.
• Gabrielle Lessley: British singer, performer and actress.
• Adelina Lessley: American actress best known for her role in the film The Absence of Innocence.
• Victoria Lessley: British horticulturist, garden designer and author.
• David Lessley: British sculptor and visual artist.
• Sandra Lessley: British author and playwright.

Other surnames

Lesslie