Lacey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


Ireland already had an established system of hereditary surnames when the Strongbownians arrived. Often the two traditions blended together quite well due to some of their basic similarities, but the incoming Anglo-Norman system brought in some forms that were uncommon amongst the Irish. One of these Anglo-Norman anomalies was the prevalence of local surnames, such as Lacey. Local names were taken from the names of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. Originally, the place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname if the place name began with a vowel or was eliminated entirely. The local surnames of these Strongbownian invaders referred to places in Normandy, or more typically England, but eventually for those Anglo-Normans that remained in Ireland, the nicknames referred to places or geographical features of the island: they became true local names. The Lacey family appears to have originally lived in the settlement of Lassy in the region called Calvados in northern France. The name of this place is derived from the Gaulish personal name Lascius, which is of uncertain origin, and the local suffix -acum. The Gaelic form of the surname Lacey is de Léis. However, there is a native Irish family of County Wexford named Ó Laitheasa who anglicize their surname as Lacey. This name, which was originally Ó Flaithgheasa, is derived from the Gaelic word flaith, which means prince. 1 This was, in most cases, a nickname applied to someone with princely manners or a regal bearing.

Early Origins of the Lacey family

The surname Lacey was first found in County Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they had been granted lands by Strongbow after the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Lacey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lacey research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1298 is included under the topic Early Lacey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lacey Spelling Variations

During an investigation of the origin of each name, it was found that church officials and medieval scribes spelled many surnames as they sounded. Therefore, during the lifetime of a single person, a name could be spelt numerous ways. Some of the spelling variations for the name Lacey include Lacey, Lacie, Lacy, de Lacy, Lasey, Lassey and many more.

Early Notables of the Lacey family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Hugo de Lacy of Limerick, as well as Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, who was recorded on the...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lacey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lacey World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lacey is the 1,682nd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Lacey is ranked the 542nd most popular surname with an estimated 85 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Lacey is the 773rd popular surname with an estimated 5,050 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Lacey as 655th with 9,993 people. 5


Lacey migration to the United States +

A great number of Irish families left their homeland in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century, migrating to such far away lands as Australia and North America. The early settlers left after much planning and deliberation. They were generally well off but they desired a tract of land that they could farm solely for themselves. The great mass of immigrants to arrive on North American shores in the 1840s differed greatly from their predecessors because many of them were utterly destitute, selling all they had to gain a passage on a ship or having their way paid by a philanthropic society. These Irish people were trying to escape the aftermath of the Great Potato Famine: poverty, starvation, disease, and, for many, ultimately death. Those that arrived on North American shores were not warmly welcomed by the established population, but they were vital to the rapid development of the industry, agriculture, and infrastructure of the infant nations of the United States and what would become Canada. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Irish settlers bearing the name Lacey:

Lacey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Lacey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Lacey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Lacey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lacey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Lacey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Lacey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Lacey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Lacey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Lacey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Lacey (post 1700) +


The Lacey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Meritas augentur honores
Motto Translation: Honours are enhanced by deserts.


Suggested Readings for the name Lacey +
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