Surname Lillie - Meaning and Origin

Lillie: What does the surname Lillie mean?

The surname Lillie is of English origin and is derived from the female given name Lily. The name Lily comes from the Old English word "lilie," which in turn is derived from the Latin "lilium." This word originally referred to the lily flower, a symbol of purity in Christianity. As a surname, Lillie was often bestowed as a nickname to someone who was pure, innocent, or peaceful, mirroring the symbolic representation of the flower. Alternatively, it might have been given to someone who lived near a field of lilies or a prominent area where lilies grew. Over time, the name's spelling evolved, resulting in various forms such as Lilly, Lillie, Lilley, and Lylie. Like many surnames, geographic distribution of the name Lillie is widespread with occurrences in many English-speaking countries.

Lillie: Where does the name Lillie come from?

The surname Lillie is of English origin. It is believed to have been derived from the personal name Lil(l)y or the Old English word "lilie" that translates to "lily". It was often given as a pet name to women, but eventually evolved into a surname.

Lillie also traces its roots to Scotland, where it was first used in the medieval kingdom of Dalriada in Scotland's West coast.

The surname gained popularity as a result of its usage in several countries including England, America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. In England, instances of the surname are found primarily in Northern England, particularly in Yorkshire.

Today, the surname is common in the United States, especially in Missouri, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. It's also quite prevalent in Australia and slightly less so in Canada and South Africa.

In terms of rank, according to Forebears, a genealogy website, the surname Lillie is the 22,905th most common surname in the world, with the highest number of Lillies being in the United States.

Variations of the surname Lillie

The surname Lillie has a few variants and alternate spellings related to it. It might be written as Lilly, Lilli, Lille, Liley, Lill, or Lylle. Sometimes it can also be found as Lyle or Lyell, as these names, especially in Scottish clans, might have been phonetically transcribed and thus altered over time. It became Le Lylie and Le Lille in the 13th century, and by the 17th century, some branches of the family started using Lillie as their surname. In certain regional dialects and accents, it could be written as Lylli or Lyllie.

The name appears in different languages, too, such as French, Dutch, and German, where variations like Le Lieu, Lilje, or Lilien are common.

As a surname, Lillie is assumed to be of English and Scottish origins, meaning someone who lived by a lily pond, or a nickname relating to purity (lilies being a symbol of purity in medieval symbolism). Regional influences and immigration patterns over the centuries might introduce more variations to this interesting surname.

Famous people with the name Lillie

• Joe Lillie: former professional American football player
• Len Lillie: former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s
• John Lillie: former professional baseball third baseman
• Dave Lillie: former American professional basketball player
• Paul Lillie: former American professional basketball player
• Peter Lillie: British Olympic wrestler for Great Britain in the 1952 Summer Olympics
• Frances Miller-Lillie: British artist and sculptor
• John Lillie: founding member of the British rock band The Who
• Christian Lillie: Swedish swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
• Matt Lillie: game artist and designer for the game company High Voltage Software
• Ledra Lillie: Movie and voice actor known for her work in movies such as ‘A Most Violent Year’, ‘Sãrãh’, and ‘The Last of Us’
• Owena Lillie: patient rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner
• Chris Lillie: British comedian and actor, known for his work on ‘The Fast Show’ and ‘Home Alone’
• William Lillie: American actor known for his work on ‘Dirty Dancing’ and in ‘The Exorcist’
• Don Lillie: American actor known for his work on ‘The Manchurian Candidate’, ‘The Andromeda Strain’, and ‘The Doc’.

Other surnames

LillifantLillinghartLilliquistLillisLilliston