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| Origins Available: |
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The surname Leif has two distinct possible entomological origins. Firstly, the name could have been derived from the Old English personal name "Leofa" and/or "Leofe", both meaning "dear" or "beloved." Secondly, the name could have been a topographical name for someone who lived in a densely foliated area from the Middle English word "leaf." 1 2
By extension, the names Leafchild and Liefchild were nicknames for "dear child." 3 "Leffechyld occurs in a poem of the XV. century, cited by Halliwell, in the sense of dear or beloved child; and so early as 1222, it is found as a Christian name-Lefchild, son of Sprot." 4
The surname Leif was first found in Norfolk, where Godwin Lief was registered in the Pipe Rolls of 1198. In Cambridgeshire, Alice le Lef and Loue de Lef were both recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. Ancient Suffolk records show Henry Lyf listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. The Subsidy Rolls for Essex show an entry for Henry Lief (Leef) in 1327. Lucia le Lyf was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327 and a few years later, William Leof was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 1
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also include: Pagan Lef, Norfolk; Alice le Lef, Cambridgeshire; and Lone the Lef, Huntingdonshire. 3 Early Somerset records show Nicholas Leve, Somerset, 1 Edward III and Lucia Te Lyf, Somerset, 1 Edward III, (both registered in the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leif research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1273, 1279, 1677, 1696, 1754, 1763, 1780, 1795, 1797, 1804, 1808, 1823, 1824, 1830, 1831, 1846, 1848, 1851, 1854, 1862 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Leif History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Leif were recorded, including Leaf, Leaff, Leaffe, Leafe, Leif, Lief, Life, Lef, Leof, Leefe, Leve, Lyf, Leafchild and many more.
Distinguished members of the family include
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Leif family emigrate to North America: John Leaff who sailed to Virginia in 1663; Henry Leaf who arrived in Barbados in 1663; Sarah Leaffe who arrived in Maryland in 1679; and Dennis Leaf who sailed to Pennsylvania in 1865..