Leathley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Leathley was first found in "Leathes and Dalehead, co. Cumberland [where they were] seated at the former place shortly after the Conquest; the last male heir, Thomas Leathes, Esq., d. in 1806." 1 2

Later, in Yorkshire Gilbert del Lathes was listed as Freeman of York in 1296. A few years later, Richard del Lathes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.

Another source notes "this surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of the lathes,' i.e. the barns, the grange. The surname has arisen in several localities. Lathes is a hamlet next unto Warnpool and was so called of a grange or farm which the Lord of Whitrigg had there. Of that place the family of the Lathes took their name until Adam Leathes, now owner of the demesne thereof, sold the tenements and residue of the hamlet to the inhabitants. It was given by Robert, the son of Robert de Dunbretton, to his kinsman Henry, whose posterity were thereupon called Leaths' "Appended is a quotation: 'Robertas filius Roberti dedit Leathes Henrico fratri suo, Henry III' 3

Thomas atte Lathe was rector of Stokesby, Norfolk in 1356. 'The manor house was lately called the Lathes, it stands a little distance from Pokethorp Street.' Pokethorp Manor, Norwich." 4

The same source also notes "John Corbet (4 Edward VI), had a lease of the Cellerie's, or St. Leonard's meadow, containing six acres, lying between the river and street, the Lathis close, and fold-course, and liberty of shak in the manor house and yard, and all thereon built, called the Lathe-yard" 4

Adam del Laythes was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. Records of the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 show John de Leth as holding lands there at that time. Henry Latheman was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1278. 5 Reaney notes the name literally means 'worker at the barn(s) from the Old Norse word 'hlaða' Leath is a Lancashire and Cumberland dialect form of the name. 5