Show ContentsAttlee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Attlee date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Attlee family lived in Kent, where they held a family seat at Lee's Court. The original form of this name was atte Lee, which became modified to the shorter form Attlee.

Early Origins of the Attlee family

The surname Attlee was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from ancient times, some say before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Attlee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Attlee research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1258 is included under the topic Early Attlee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Attlee Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Attlee are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Attlee include: Atlee, Attley, Attlie, Atleigh, Atley, Atleys and others.

Early Notables of the Attlee family

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

Migration of the Attlee family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Attlee or a variant listed above: William Atlee, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1744, and descended was Walter Franklin Atlee related to Benjamin Franklin, also of Philadelphia.


Contemporary Notables of the name Attlee (post 1700) +

  • Donald Attlee (b. 1921), English RAF Air Vice-Marshal
  • Martin Richard Attlee (1927-1991), 2nd Earl Attlee, British politician
  • Prime Minister Clement Richard Attlee (1883-1967), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951


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