Leadshum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Leadshum come from when the family resided in West Yorkshire at Lerdsham, a parish, in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash. 1 2 This parish appears in the Domesday Book as Ledesham 3 and literally meant "homestead within the district of Leeds." 4

Early Origins of the Leadshum family

The surname Leadshum was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Ledsham near Pontefrac. The earliest record was Ned de Ledesham who was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. 5

Ledsham in Cheshire is another possible origin point for the family. This township in the parish of Neston, union, and Higher division of the hundred of Wirrall also dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was "written [as] Levetsham, and the lands are therein stated to have been held by Walter de Vernon." 1

Later in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, Robertus de Ledesam and Johannes de Ledsam were listed as holding lands there at that time. The Register of the University of Oxford includes an entry for Henry Ledsham in 1570. 2

Early History of the Leadshum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leadshum research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1540, 1582, 1602, 1603, 1775 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Leadshum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leadshum Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Leadshum has been recorded under many different variations, including Ledsham, Leadsham, Leadsom, Leadson, Ledsum, Ledsam, Ledsem, Ledson, Leadson, lettsom, Letsom and many more.

Early Notables of the Leadshum family

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

Migration of the Leadshum family to Ireland

Some of the Leadshum family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leadshum family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Leadshum or a variant listed above: Fred and Agusta Ledsen and their two children, who came to Manitoba in 1891.

The Leadshum 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: Fac at spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)