| ![Show Contents]() Leitz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Leitz is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal name Lettice, a popular girls name in medieval times. This personal name was originally derived from the Latin laetitia, which means gladness and joy. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames. Early Origins of the Leitz familyThe surname Leitz was first found in Gloucestershire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Lett, before the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086. Early History of the Leitz familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leitz research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1864, 1956, 1963, 1972 and 1981 are included under the topic Early Leitz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Leitz Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Leitz has been spelled many different ways, including Lett, Layt, Laite, Layte, Let, Lete, Latt, Leyt, Letts, Lettson and many more. Early Notables of the Leitz familyMore information is included under the topic Early Leitz Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Leitz family to Ireland
Some of the Leitz family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Leitz migration to the United States | + |
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Leitzs to arrive in North America:
Leitz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Friedrice Leitz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 1
- Georg Leitz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
- Johannes Leitz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 1
- Thomas Leitz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 1
- Casimir Leitz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1773 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Leitz (post 1700) | + |
- Ernst Leitz I. (1843-1920), German businessman and founder of Ernst Leitz GmbH
- Albert Leitz, German businessman, founder of Leitz GmbH & Co. KG, in 1876
- Louis Leitz (1846-1918), German inventor and founder of Esselte Leitz GmbH & Co KG. in 1896
- 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)
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Leitz migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
