Show ContentsLesch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Lesch surname is thought to have derived from the Slavic word "litsch," which meant "wild;" as such, it may have originally been a nickname for a wild or unruly person. The surname many also have evolved from any of several places, such as Lisch in Holstein; or Lischau in East Prussia.

Early Origins of the Lesch family

The surname Lesch was first found in Austria, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was enrolled by the princes of the region. In their later history the family became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential name.

Early History of the Lesch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lesch research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1662, 1701, 1736, 1740, 1749, 1760 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Lesch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lesch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lischer, Lisch, Lischke, Lischka, Lischeid, Lissek, Lissak, Litsch, Litscher, Litschke, Litschka, Litschko, Lischy, Liske, Lisko, Liskov, Liskow and many more.

Early Notables of the Lesch family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Lesch were Christian Liscow (1701-1760) from Mecklenburg, who was a prominent writer of satires. In 1736 he entered the service...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lesch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lesch migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lesch Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Balthasar Lesch, who landed in New York in 1709-1710 [1]
  • Burchent Lesch, who landed in New York in 1709 [1]
  • Johan Henrig Lesch, who landed in New York in 1709 [1]
  • Susanna Lesch, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 [1]
  • Christian Lesch, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 [1]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lesch Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anna Lesch, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1849 [1]
  • Georg Hinrich Lesch, who landed in Iroquois County, Illinois in 1886 [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Lesch (post 1700) +

  • George Henry Lesch (1909-1994), American president and CEO of the Colgate-Palmolive company from 1960 to 1971
  • Michael Lesch (1939-2008), American physician and medical educator
  • John Lesch (b. 1973), member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
  • Harald Lesch (b. 1960), German physicist, astronomer, natural philosopher, author, television presenter, and professor of physics
  • Gabriela Lesch (b. 1964), retired German runner and West German champion in 1988, 1989, and 1990


  1. 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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