Show ContentsLennart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Lennart originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Leannain, which is possibly derived from the word leann, which denotes a cloak. Another possible derivation is from the word leanan, which means paramour.

Early Origins of the Lennart family

The surname Lennart was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Lennart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lennart research. Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lennart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lennart Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of the surname Lennart can be found in the archives. One reason for these variations is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. The different spellings that were found include Lennon, Lannin, Lannon, Linnane, O'Lennon, Lennane, Leonard, MacAlinion, O'Lennan and many more.

Early Notables of the Lennart family

More information is included under the topic Early Lennart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lennart migration to the United States +

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Lennart name:

Lennart Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • F. Lennart, aged 19, who landed in America, in 1892
Lennart Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Rosalia Lennart, aged 60, who immigrated to the United States from Ostrowsko, Galicia, in 1910
  • Julia Lennart, aged 16, who landed in America, in 1912
  • Thomas J. Lennart, aged 39, who settled in America, in 1919
  • Jesie Lennart, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Lennart (post 1700) +

  • Isobel Lennart (1915-1971), American screenwriter and playwright
  • E. W. Lennart, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Washington, 1952, 1960 1
  • Sonja de Lennart (b. 1920), European fashion designer
  • Torsten Lennart Back (1933-2022), Swedish bronze medalist race walker in the 20 km event at the 1958 European Championships
  • Ulf Lennart Nilsson (1948-2021), Swedish writer who published more than 100 books and picture books, geared mainly to children and adolescents
  • Paul Lennart Hellsing (1919-2015), Swedish writer and translator
  • Bengt Lennart Norberg (b. 1949), Swedish bronze medalist hockey player at the 1980 Winter Olympics who played for the Swedish national team
  • Lieutenant-General Karl Lennart Oesch (1892-1978), Finnish Commander in Chief, Ground Forces (1944-1945) 2
  • Timothy Lennart Kopra (b. 1963), NASA astronaut with over 58 days in space 3
  • Lennart Bengtsson (b. 1935), Swedish meteorologist


The Lennart Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Prisco stirpe hibernico
Motto Translation: Of an ancient Irish stock


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  2. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 5) Karl Oesch. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Oesch/Karl_Lennart/Finland.html
  3. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2011, January 18) Timothy Kopra. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kopra-tl.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook