Leap History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe surname Leap and it's variations have long been in England. It is thought that the name may have come to Britain with the Anglo-Saxons, as a German version of this name exists to this day. In other cases, the name may have derived from the French 'lapin," meaning "rabbit," and arrived in Britain with the Normans. 1 Early Origins of the Leap familyThe surname Leap was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held lands. Early instances of the name in England include one Robert Lapyn who is mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Kent in the year 1320. 1 Early History of the Leap familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leap research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Leap History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Leap Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Leap has been recorded under many different variations, including Lapp, Leap, Lap and others. Early Notables of the Leap familyMore information is included under the topic Early Leap Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Leap or a variant listed above: Leap Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
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: Leap Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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