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From www.HouseOfNames.com Archives copyright © 2000 - 2009

Origins Available: English, Irish

Where did the Irish Lacey family come from? What is the Irish coat of arms/family crest? When did the Lacey family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

Ireland already had an established system of hereditary surnames when the Strongbownians arrived. Often the two traditions blended together quite well due to some of their basic similarities, but the incoming Anglo-Norman system brought in some forms that were uncommon amongst the Irish. One of these Anglo-Norman anomalies was the prevalence of local surnames, such as Lacey. Local names were taken from the names of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. Originally, the place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname if the place name began with a vowel or was eliminated entirely. The local surnames of these Strongbownian invaders referred to places in Normandy, or more typically England, but eventually for those Anglo- Normans that remained in Ireland, the nicknames referred to places or geographical features of the island: they became true local names. The Lacey family appears to have originally lived in the settlement of Lassy in the region called Calvados in northern France. The name of this place is derived from the Gaulish personal name Lascius, which is of uncertain origin, and the local suffix -acum. The Gaelic form of the surname Lacey is de Léis. However, there is a native Irish family of county Wexford named O Laitheasa who anglicize their surname as Lacey. This name, which was originally O Flaithgheasa, is derived from the Gaelic word flaith, which means prince. This was, in most cases, a nickname applied to someone with princely manners or a regal bearing.

Medieval scribes and church officials spelt names simply the way they sounded, which explains the various name spelling variations of the name Lacey that were encountered when researching that surname. The many spelling variations included: Lacey, Lacie, Lacy, de Lacy, Lasey, Lassey and many more.

First found in county Limerick, where they had been granted lands by Strongbow after the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish Families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Lacey: John Lacey, who settled in Virginia in 1677; Elizabeth Lacey with her husband James and son and daughter settled in Georgia in 1737; William Lacy settled in Virginia in 1635.

Motto Translated: Honours are enhanced by deserts.

For more information on the last name Lacey, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.


Suggested Readings for the name Lacey
  • The Thomas Lacy III (also Lacey) Family by Hubert Wesley Lacey.

Some noteworthy people of the name Lacey
  • Robert Lacey, American, well published historian
  • Marc Lacey, American journalist for the New York Times
  • Janet Lacey, American Health Consultant
  • Gerald Lacey, American Civil Engineer
  • Jack Lacey, American Jazz musician in the 30s and 40s
  • Venus Lacey, American basketball player
  • Dr. Alan Lacey, British acclaimed scholar of Philosophy
  • Margaret Lacey (1910-1988), British character actor
  • Rebecca Lacey, British actress
  • Rob Lacey, British author
  • Ingrid Lacey, British actress


Tell Me More About Family Crests


Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist


We have researched the Lacey family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline


Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements


In the Lacey coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate


We encourage you to study the Lacey genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Lacey Family Crest Products


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Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.
Coat of Arms for the name Lacey.
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Family Crest for the name Lacey.
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Packages proudly displaying the Lacey coat of arms.
Plaques and Frames with a Lacey coat of arms.
Surname Histories for the name Lacey.
Symbolism with the family crest for the name Lacey.
Travel Mugs showing the Lacey family crest.
Popular Products
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The Lacey Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Lacey 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.

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