Fleigh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Fleigh

There are several possible origins for the distinguished surname Fleigh. Firstly, the name may be derived from "Flée," the name of a place in the Cote-d'Or in France; in this case, the name would mean "one from Flée," and would have been brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Old English "fleah," meaning "flea"; in this instance, it is likely that the name was bestowed on the original bearer as a nickname.

Early Origins of the Fleigh family

Early History of the Fleigh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fleigh research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1233, 1332, 1620 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Fleigh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fleigh Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Fleigh have been found, including Flay, Flaye, Fleay and others.

Early Notables of the Fleigh family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fleigh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fleigh family

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Fleigh were among those contributors: Marie Flaye, who immigrated to Louisiana with her family during the 18th century; and Walter Flay, who was recorded in the 1871 census of Ontario.