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Greenleaf History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Greenleaf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Greenleaf surname was a nickname for someone who "dressed in green leaves, representing a wild-man in public pageants." 1 or in some cases, "a character in the pageants of Robin Hood." 2

Early Origins of the Greenleaf family

The surname Greenleaf was first found in Suffolk, where an Adam Grenelefe was listed in 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk. Later John Grenelefe was recorded in Sheffield in 1441 and later again, Thomas Grenelefe was listed in Norfolk in 1577. As a twist, we note William Leafgrene in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include an entry for Johannes de Grenelef et Lora uxor ejus, spicer 4 and in Somerset, Elen Grenelef was listed there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

The family "has become strong in America," as early Hotten's Lists of Emigrants records "William Greenlefe sailed from Gravesend in 1635 for St. Christopher's' and Robert Greenleafe went so early as 1610, and settled in Virginia, married, and left children. " 6

Early History of the Greenleaf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greenleaf research. Another 24 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1441, 1577 and 1635 are included under the topic Early Greenleaf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Greenleaf Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Greenleaf have been found, including Greenleaf, Greenleef, Greenleaves and others.

Early Notables of the Greenleaf family

Distinguished members of the family include

Lieutenant Edmund Greenleaf, who emigrated to Massachusetts in 1635

Greenleaf Ranking

In the United States, the name Greenleaf is the 5,822^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7

Greenleaf migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Greenleaf surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Greenleaf Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edmond Greenleaf, who landed in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1635 8
Stephen Greenleaf, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1657 8

Greenleaf Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Captain Greenleaf was in the 3rd regiment of the Massachusetts during the Revolution in 1776
David Greenleaf, who arrived in Mississippi in 1799 8

Greenleaf Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Greenleaf, aged 30, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Pioneer" in 1849 9

Greenleaf migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Greenleaf Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

R D Greenleaf, who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Austral" in 1887 10

Greenleaf Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Stanley Greenleaf, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Euripides" in 1922 10

Greenleaf migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Greenleaf Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century

Henery Greenleaf, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Atlantis" in 1950 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Greenleaf (post 1700) +

Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf (1681-1762), first American female apothecary in the Thirteen Colonies. She is considered to be the first female pharmacist in the United States
Jean Brooks Greenleaf (1832-1918), American woman suffragist
James Greenleaf (1765-1843), late 18th and early 19th century American land speculator responsible for the development of Washington, D.C
Elizabeth Bristol Greenleaf (1895-1980), American collector of folk songs
Diunna Greenleaf (b. 1957), is an American blues singer and songwriter
Stewart John Greenleaf Sr. (1939-2021), American politician and attorney, Member of the Pennsylvania Senate (1979-2019)
William Greenleaf (b. 1948), American author
George Franklin Greenleaf Jr. (1874-1936), American football player and medical doctor
Robert K. Greenleaf (1904-1990), founder of the modern Servant leadership movement
Ralph Greenleaf (1899-1950), American professional pool and carom billiards player
... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Hotten, John Camden (ed), The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American plantations 1600-1700.New York: J. W. Bouton, 1874, Digital
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx