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Show ContentsLeers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Leers is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Leers family lived in Leicestershire. This surname was originally derived from the Old French de L'Eyre, a reference to a place in the arrondissement of Evreux in Normandy. 1 2

Early Origins of the Leers family

The surname Leers was first found in Leicestershire and Warwickshire where one of the first records of the family was William de Lyre who held estates in these shires in the 13th century. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list William de la Lere (likely the same as above) 3

Early History of the Leers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leers research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1272, 1602, 1642, 1662, 1722, 1798, 1802 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Leers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leers Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Lear, Leare, Leer, Leere and others.

Early Notables of the Leers family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Tobias Lear, an American diplomat who was appointed by George Washington as his military secretary in 1798 and appointed by...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Leers family to Ireland

Some of the Leers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leers family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Leers or a variant listed above: Thomas Leer who arrived in Virginia in 1635; Mort Lear who arrived in Virginia in 1649; Tobias Lear who sailed to New England in 1650; John Leere who sailed to Virginia in 1654.
  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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