Leefe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Leefe has two distinct possible entomological origins. Firstly, the name could have been derived from the Old English personal name "Leofa" and/or "Leofe", both meaning "dear" or "beloved." Secondly, the name could have been a topographical name for someone who lived in a densely foliated area from the Middle English word "leaf." 1 2

By extension, the names Leafchild and Liefchild were nicknames for "dear child." 3 "Leffechyld occurs in a poem of the XV. century, cited by Halliwell, in the sense of dear or beloved child; and so early as 1222, it is found as a Christian name-Lefchild, son of Sprot." 4

Early Origins of the Leefe family

The surname Leefe was first found in Norfolk, where Godwin Lief was registered in the Pipe Rolls of 1198. In Cambridgeshire, Alice le Lef and Loue de Lef were both recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. Ancient Suffolk records show Henry Lyf listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. The Subsidy Rolls for Essex show an entry for Henry Lief (Leef) in 1327. Lucia le Lyf was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327 and a few years later, William Leof was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also include: Pagan Lef, Norfolk; Alice le Lef, Cambridgeshire; and Lone the Lef, Huntingdonshire. 3 Early Somerset records show Nicholas Leve, Somerset, 1 Edward III and Lucia Te Lyf, Somerset, 1 Edward III, (both registered in the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

Early History of the Leefe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leefe research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1273, 1279, 1677, 1696, 1754, 1763, 1780, 1795, 1797, 1804, 1808, 1823, 1824, 1830, 1831, 1846, 1848, 1851, 1854, 1862 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Leefe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leefe Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Leefe include Leaf, Leaff, Leaffe, Leafe, Leif, Lief, Life, Lef, Leof, Leefe, Leve, Lyf, Leafchild and many more.

Early Notables of the Leefe family

Distinguished members of the family include John Leifchild (1780-1862), the English independent minister, son of John Leifchild by his wife Miss Bockman, was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire, 15 Feb. 1780. He was educated at the Barnet grammar school, and from 1795 to 1797 worked with a cooper at St. Albans. From 1804 to 1808 he was a student in Hoxton academy; from 1808 to 1824 was minister of the independent chapel in Hornton Street, Kensington; from 1824 to 1830 was minister of the church in Bridge Street, Bristol; and from 1831 to 1854 at Craven Chapel, Bayswater, London. 6Henry Stormonth Leifchild...
Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leefe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leefe family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: John Leaff who sailed to Virginia in 1663; Henry Leaf who arrived in Barbados in 1663; Sarah Leaffe who arrived in Maryland in 1679; and Dennis Leaf who sailed to Pennsylvania in 1865..

Contemporary Notables of the name Leefe (post 1700) +

John Gordon Leefe ECNS DCL (1942-2022), Canadian author, former educator and politician, Mayor of Region of Queens Municipality, Nova Scotia (2000-2012)
Paul Leefe, New Zealand bronze medalist wheelchair rugby player at the 2000 Paralympic Games

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print