Lénart History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Lénart originated with the Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name for Leonard. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint. In this case the surname Lénart was originally derived from the well-known saint, St. Leonard who was a popular both in England and in France. Early Origins of the Lénart familyThe surname Lénart was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very early times. Early History of the Lénart familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lénart research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1570, 1590, 1591, 1600, 1604, 1615, 1616, 1637, 1654, 1661, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1698, 1701, 1709, 1715 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Lénart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lénart Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Lénart has appeared include Leonard, Leonards, Lennard and others. Early Notables of the Lénart familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Henry Lennard, 12th Baron Dacre (1570-1616), an English Baron and politician; Sampson Lennard (died 1615), of Chevening in Kent, an English Member of Parliament, High Sheriff of Kent (1590-1591); Sir Stephen Lennard (c. 1604-1680), 1st Baronet of West Wickham; and his son... Migration of the Lénart family to IrelandSome of the Lénart family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Lénart arrived in North America very early: Lénart Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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