The name Lightey is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in a clearing or glade. The surname Lightey is derived from the Old English word leoht, which means light and is theorized to specifically mean light place in this case. The surname Lightey belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.
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Early Origins of the Lightey family
The surname Lightey was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
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Early History of the Lightey family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lightey research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1529, 1546, 1564, 1578, 1588 and 1607 are included under the topic Early Lightey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Lightey 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 Lightey 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 Lightey include: Light, Lyte, Lite and others.
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Early Notables of the Lightey family
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lightey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Lightey family
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 Lightey or a variant listed above: Elias Light settled in Virginia in 1637 along with Richard; George Light settled in Virginia in 1652 with Mary; William and John Light settled in Virginia in 1653..
England
