Show ContentsLeckey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Leckey was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Leckey family lived at Leckie in the county of Stirlingshire. The place name is derived from the Gaelic leac, or "flagstone," and the suffix -ach, which means "place."

Early Origins of the Leckey family

The surname Leckey was first found in the shires of Dumbarton and Stirling, derived from the barony of Leckie in the parish of Gargunnock, Stirlingshire. The first on record was "Murdoch Leckie [who] received a grant of two fourth parts of Bathewnn and Altremony from Robert III." 1 Robert III, John Stewart, was King of Scots from 1390 to his death in 1406. From this early recording, we must move to the 16th and 17th centuries to find the next records. "David Lekky was denounced [as a] rebel in 1537, Janet Laiky appears in Cammok, parish of Glenylla, 1599, and Euphemia Laikie in Carneleithe, 1694." 1

"The surname appears as Lecque among the Scots Guards in France, and the Leckies of Antrim and Carlow in Ireland are of Scottish descent. In Forman's heraldic MS. the name is spelled Leuke. The individual who had a charter of the lands of Leckie in the reign of David II was a descendant of Corc, brother of Maldouen, third Earl of Lennox." 1

Early History of the Leckey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leckey research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1380, 1390, 1406, 1537, 1784, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Leckey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leckey Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Leckey has appeared as Leckie, Leck, Leckey, Lecky, Lackey, Lackie, Lachey, Lakey and many more.

Early Notables of the Leckey family

Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leckey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leckey family to Ireland

Some of the Leckey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Leckey migration to the United States +

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them:

Leckey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jane Leckey, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Sarah Leckey, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Theophilus Leckey, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Thomas Leckey, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 2
  • Andrew Hugh, James, John and William Leckey, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

Leckey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leckey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Isaac Leckey, aged 38, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Catherine Leckey, aged 38, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Eliza Leckey, aged 10, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Ann Leckey, aged 8, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Robert Leckey, aged 9 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838

Leckey migration to Australia +

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

Leckey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Anne Leckey, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"

Contemporary Notables of the name Leckey (post 1700) +

  • Nicholas Nathan "Nick" Leckey (b. 1982), former American football center who played in the National Football League from Dallas County, Texas
  • Robert Leckey, Canadian academic and lawyer, Dean of the McGill University Faculty of Law where he is also a full professor
  • Mark Leckey (b. 1964), British contemporary artist, working with collage art, music and video, best known for Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore (1999) and Industrial Light and Magic (2008), for which he won the 2008 Turner Prize


The Leckey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtutis praemium
Motto Translation: Virtues reward


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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