Leslie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


Today's generation of the Leslie family inherits a name that was first used by the Scottish tribe known as the Picts. The first family to use the name Leslie lived in the barony of Leslie in the county of Aberdeen. The surname Leslie belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Leslie family

The surname Leslie was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland, where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated on the lands of Leslie. "This place is said to have derived its name from a family who held the lands so early as the eleventh century." 1

It is generally believed the family was descended from Bartholomew Leslyn, son of Walter de Leslyn, a Flemish knight who attended Queen Margaret when she arrived to marry King Malcolm of Scotland in 1067. 2 3

According to legend, the wife of King Malcolm III was thrown from her horse while crossing a river and nearly drowned, but Leslyn, gripping the horses bridle, saved her. She frequently cautioned him to 'grip fast' and afterwards commanded that he retain those words as his family motto. He later married the sister of Malcolm Ceanmore, and so was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle and made Lord Leslie. 3

Malcolm Leslie of Garioch in Aberdeenshire, son of Bartolf, received a feudal charter confirming his lands from a grant made to his name-father, Lord Leslie. Malcolm's grandson, Sir Andrew de Lesly, was one of the signatories of the 1320 'Arbroath Declaration of Independence' to the Pope, which affirmed Scotland's sovereignty and included the words: "as long as one hundred Scotsmen still live they would never submit to English rule."

Another source claims the family "trace their origin to Bartholomew, a Flemish chief, who settled with his followers in the district of Garioch, in Aberdeenshire, in the reign of William the Lion. He took the name of De Lesley from the place where he settled. The heralds, however, have an old legend representing the first man of the family as having acquired distinction and a name at once, by overcoming a knight in battle, at a spot between a less lee (meadow) and a greater." 4

Whichever origin the reader chooses, all agree that one of the first records of the family was "Earl David, brother of William the Lion, granted c. 1171-1199 the lands of Lesslyn in the Garioch to Malcolm son of Bartholf. " 5

As far as the origin of the Coat of Arms is concerned perhaps this quote will shed some light: "Sir Norman de Lechelyn of Aberdeenshire rendered homage in 1296. His seal bears six shields in a circle conjoined in base, each charged with 3 round buckles on a bend." 5 It's a little different that the one anciently used by the family but it is significant in that it notes that the family was using a variant of the same as far back as the 13th century.

Early History of the Leslie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leslie research. Another 309 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1340, 1411, 1527, 1562, 1571, 1580, 1596, 1600, 1607, 1635, 1641, 1650, 1661, 1667, 1671, 1680, 1682, 1693, 1711, 1722, 1758, 1797, 1850 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Leslie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leslie Spelling Variations

Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Leslie has appeared Leslie, Lesley, Lessely, Lessley, Lesslie and others.

Early Notables of the Leslie family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Leslie World Ranking

In the United States, the name Leslie is the 1,244th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Leslie is ranked the 796th most popular surname with an estimated 6,751 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Leslie is the 571st popular surname with an estimated 6,750 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Leslie as 521st with 1,326 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Leslie as 937th with 7,389 people. 10

Migration of the Leslie family to Ireland

Some of the Leslie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Leslie migration to the United States +

Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Leslie:

Leslie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Leslie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Leslie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Leslie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Leslie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

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

Leslie migration to Australia +

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

Leslie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Leslie 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:

Leslie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Leslie (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Leslie +
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