Lily History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Lily has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from the popular female personal name Elizabeth. The name Lily is a metronymic surname, which is derived from the name of the mother. Occasionally, the surname is derived from residence in the settlement of Lilley in Hertfordshire or in the place called Lilly in Berkshire. In this case, the name Lily belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Early Origins of the Lily familyThe surname Lily was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Lily familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lily research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1553, 1560, 1578, 1580, 1602, 1606, 1618, 1652, 1680, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lily History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lily Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Lily include Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others. Early Notables of the Lily familyDistinguished members of the family include Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), born Pieter van der Faes, a Dutch painter whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court; John Lyly (Lilly or Lylie; c.1553-1606), an English writer, poet, dramatist, playwright, and politician, best known for his books "Euphues, The... Migration of the Lily family to IrelandSome of the Lily family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Lily Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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