Leathes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Leathes family

The surname Leathes was first found in "Leathes and Dalehead, co. Cumberland [where they were] seated at the former place shortly after the Conquest; the last male heir, Thomas Leathes, Esq., d. in 1806." 1 2

Later, in Yorkshire Gilbert del Lathes was listed as Freeman of York in 1296. A few years later, Richard del Lathes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.

Another source notes "this surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of the lathes,' i.e. the barns, the grange. The surname has arisen in several localities. Lathes is a hamlet next unto Warnpool and was so called of a grange or farm which the Lord of Whitrigg had there. Of that place the family of the Lathes took their name until Adam Leathes, now owner of the demesne thereof, sold the tenements and residue of the hamlet to the inhabitants. It was given by Robert, the son of Robert de Dunbretton, to his kinsman Henry, whose posterity were thereupon called Leaths' "Appended is a quotation: 'Robertas filius Roberti dedit Leathes Henrico fratri suo, Henry III' 3

Thomas atte Lathe was rector of Stokesby, Norfolk in 1356. 'The manor house was lately called the Lathes, it stands a little distance from Pokethorp Street.' Pokethorp Manor, Norwich." 4

The same source also notes "John Corbet (4 Edward VI), had a lease of the Cellerie's, or St. Leonard's meadow, containing six acres, lying between the river and street, the Lathis close, and fold-course, and liberty of shak in the manor house and yard, and all thereon built, called the Lathe-yard" 4

Adam del Laythes was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. Records of the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 show John de Leth as holding lands there at that time. Henry Latheman was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1278. 5 Reaney notes the name literally means 'worker at the barn(s) from the Old Norse word 'hlaða' Leath is a Lancashire and Cumberland dialect form of the name. 5

Early History of the Leathes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leathes research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1070, 1468 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Leathes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leathes 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 Leathes 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. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Leathes include: Leathes, Lethes, Lerthes, Leathley and others.

Early Notables of the Leathes family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Leathes family of Cumberland and Suffolk

Leathes migration to the United States +

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 Leathes or a variant listed above:

Leathes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Leathes, recorded in New York city in 1711
William Leathes, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1711 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Leathes (post 1700) +

Stanley Leathes (1830-1900), English priest, religious scholar and lecturer
Jenny Leathes, English photographic artist
Stanley Mordaunt Leathes (b. 1861), British historian, a fellow of Trinity, Cambridge

The Leathes 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: In ardua virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue against difficulties.

Citations +

Burke, Sir Bernard, C.B. LL.D The General Armory of England Scotland, Ireland and Wales. London: Harrison, 59, Pall Mall, 1884, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)