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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2013
Ley Family Crest
Ley Family Crest
Ley

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Contents

Origins Available: English, German

Where did the English Ley family come from? What is the English Ley family crest and coat of arms? When did the Ley family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the Ley family history?

The name Ley was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ley family lived in any of the various places named Leigh in England. There are at least 16 counties that contain a place named Leigh. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English word leah, which means wood clearing. The English Ley family is descended from the Norman Ley family.The family name Ley became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats. The Normans frequently adopted the names of their recently acquired estates in England.

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Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Ley have been found, including Leigh, Lee, Lea, Legh, Leghe, Ligh, Lighe, Leyie, Ley and many more.

First found in Cheshire, where the Ley family held a family seat from the years following the Norman Conquest of 1066. King William granted the lands of England to those who had served him in the Battle of Hastings. Many of these land barons adopted the name of their new holdings as a surname, according to the Norman custom. Thus, the first bearer of the name was Hamond Leigh, who was Lord of the Manor of High Leigh in Cheshire.


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This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ley research. Another 349 words(25 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1660, 1640, 1642, 1583, 1662, 1639, 1667, 1660, 1667, 1681 and 1760 are included under the topic Early Ley History in all our PDF Extended History products.

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Another 213 words(15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products.

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Some of the Ley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 101 words(7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products.

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For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Ley were among those contributors:

Ley Settlers in the United States in the 17th Century


  • John Ley, who arrived in Virginia in 1635
  • Rachell Ley, who arrived in America in 1654-1679
  • Edward Ley, who landed in Maryland in 1664
  • William Ley, who landed in New Jersey in 1677
  • Hump Ley, who landed in Virginia in 1698


Ley Settlers in the United States in the 18th Century


  • Hans Jurigh Ley, aged 28, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733
  • Anna Maria Ley, aged 24, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733
  • Johannes Ley, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740
  • Hans Yerrick Ley, aged 21, landed in Pennsylvania in 1753
  • Felix Ley, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1764


Ley Settlers in the United States in the 19th Century


  • Karl Ley, who arrived in America in 1846
  • Matthias Ley, aged 47, landed in Brazil in 1846
  • Hannis VanDer Ley, who arrived in Iowa in 1849
  • Mrs. P VanDer Ley, who arrived in Iowa in 1849
  • Rogina VanDer Ley, who arrived in Iowa in 1849


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  • Willy Ley (1906-1969), German-American science writer and space advocate
  • Bob Ley (b. 1955), American sportscaster for ESPN
  • Henry George Ley MA DMus FRCO FRCM (1887-1962), English organist, composer and music teacher
  • Sir Francis Ley (1846-1916), 1st Baronet, English businessman and politican who founded Ley's Malleable Castings Vulcan Ironworks in Derby and owned Ley's Baseball Ground from 1890 to 1924, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire (1905)
  • Gary Ley (b. 1956), Welsh writer
  • Richard Norman "Rick" Ley (b. 1948), retired Canadian professional NHL and WHA ice hockey player
  • Sussan Penelope Ley (b. 1961), Australian politician
  • David Ley, Welsh professor at the University of British Columbia


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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: Force avec vertu
Motto Translation: Strength with virtue.

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  1. Humble, Richard. The Fall of Saxon England. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-88029-987-8).
  2. Virkus, Frederick A. Ed. Immigrant Ancestors A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America Before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1964. Print.
  3. Ingram, Rev. James. Translator Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1823. Print.
  4. Crispin, M. Jackson and Leonce Mary. Falaise Roll Recording Prominent Companions of William Duke of Normandy at the Conquest of England. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
  5. Egle, William Henry. Pennsylvania Genealogies Scotch-Irish and German. Harrisburg: L.S. Hart, 1886. Print.
  6. Mills, A.D. Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4).
  7. Chadwick, Nora Kershaw and J.X.W.P Corcoran. The Celts. London: Penguin, 1790. Print. (ISBN 0140212116).
  8. Reaney P.H and R.M. Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X).
  9. Dunkling, Leslie. Dictionary of Surnames. Toronto: Collins, 1998. Print. (ISBN 0004720598).
  10. Markale, J. Celtic Civilization. London: Gordon & Cremonesi, 1976. Print.
  11. ...

The Ley Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Ley Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 10 February 2013 at 13:49.

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