Contents [hide]

Leather History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Leather History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The English surname Leather was originally the name of a place in Westmorland.

Early Origins of the Leather family

The surname Leather was first found in Westmorland where William de Laudre was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1184. 1 However, most of the family claim Berwickshire, Scotland as their ancient homestead as Lauder is a royal burgh dating back to at least the early part of the 12th century, when David I. granted lands to their ancient ancestors. 2 here "the family are descended from Robert Lauder, a follower of Sir William Wallace." 3

In Ireland, the name was often changed to Leather, (meaning strong) from which we find variants like Leatherwood today. 4 Other variants like Louderback and Lauderback are extensions from the original name.

Early History of the Leather family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leather research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1057, 1297, 1298, 1311, 1516, 1611, 1646 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Leather History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leather Spelling Variations

The name Leather, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Lauder, Laudor, Lawder, Lawther, Leather, Lauther and others.

Early Notables of the Leather family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir Robert Lauder of Bass (d. 1311), a supporter of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297, and at...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leather Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leather family to Ireland

Some of the Leather family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leather migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Leather family, or who bore a variation of the surname Leather were

Leather Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Leather, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 5

Leather Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Leather, who landed in Virginia in 1703 5

Leather Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Leather, who arrived in New York in 1845 5

Leather migration to Australia +

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

Leather Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Sarah Leather, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

Leather Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Leather, British Labourer who was convicted in Stafford, England for life for theft and assault, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 7
Mr. William Leather, (b. 1812), aged 28, English miner who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Samuel Leather, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Hyde" in 1849 9
James Leather, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia 10
Mr. John Leather, (b. 1821), aged 27, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for breaking and entering, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Leather 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:

Leather Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Leather, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 12
Mrs. Hannah Leather née Toole, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Leather (post 1700) +

Diane Leather (1933-2018), English two-time silver medalist athlete who became the first woman to run a mile in less than 5 minutes

Historic Events for the Leather family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Loos Verdun 'Ted' Leather (b. 1916), DSM, English Petty Officer from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 13

RMS Titanic

Mrs Elizabeth May Leather, aged 41, English Stewardess from Liverpool, Lancashire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 16 14

The Leather 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: Sub umbra alarum tuarus
Motto Translation: Under the shadow of thy wings.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM HYDE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WilliamHyde.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia in 1849 with 303 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1849
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/australasia
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html