Leff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The surname Leff has two distinct possible entomological origins. Firstly, the name could have been derived from the Old English personal name "Leofa" and/or "Leofe", both meaning "dear" or "beloved." Secondly, the name could have been a topographical name for someone who lived in a densely foliated area from the Middle English word "leaf." 1 2

By extension, the names Leafchild and Liefchild were nicknames for "dear child." 3 "Leffechyld occurs in a poem of the XV. century, cited by Halliwell, in the sense of dear or beloved child; and so early as 1222, it is found as a Christian name-Lefchild, son of Sprot." 4

Early Origins of the Leff family

The surname Leff was first found in Norfolk, where Godwin Lief was registered in the Pipe Rolls of 1198. In Cambridgeshire, Alice le Lef and Loue de Lef were both recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. Ancient Suffolk records show Henry Lyf listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. The Subsidy Rolls for Essex show an entry for Henry Lief (Leef) in 1327. Lucia le Lyf was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327 and a few years later, William Leof was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also include: Pagan Lef, Norfolk; Alice le Lef, Cambridgeshire; and Lone the Lef, Huntingdonshire. 3 Early Somerset records show Nicholas Leve, Somerset, 1 Edward III and Lucia Te Lyf, Somerset, 1 Edward III, (both registered in the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

Early History of the Leff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leff research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1273, 1279, 1677, 1696, 1754, 1763, 1780, 1795, 1797, 1804, 1808, 1823, 1824, 1830, 1831, 1846, 1848, 1851, 1854, 1862 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Leff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leff Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Leff has been spelled many different ways, including Leaf, Leaff, Leaffe, Leafe, Leif, Lief, Life, Lef, Leof, Leefe, Leve, Lyf, Leafchild and many more.

Early Notables of the Leff family

Distinguished members of the family include John Leifchild (1780-1862), the English independent minister, son of John Leifchild by his wife Miss Bockman, was born at Barnet, Hertfordshire, 15 Feb. 1780. He was educated at the Barnet grammar school, and from 1795 to 1797 worked with a cooper at St. Albans. From 1804 to 1808 he was a student in Hoxton academy; from 1808 to 1824 was minister of the independent chapel in Hornton Street, Kensington; from 1824 to 1830 was minister of the church in Bridge Street, Bristol; and from 1831 to 1854 at Craven Chapel, Bayswater, London. 6Henry Stormonth Leifchild...
Another 115 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leff Ranking

In the United States, the name Leff is the 11,678^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 7

Leff migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Leffs to arrive in North America:

Leff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Adam Leff, aged 23, who landed in America from Nowogrod, in 1899

Leff Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Josef Leff, aged 18, who landed in America from London, in 1904
Abraham Leff, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States from Manchester, England, in 1907
Ben Leff, aged 22, who settled in America, in 1907
Cilly Leff, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States from Manchester, England, in 1907
Cecil Leff, aged 2, who landed in America from Liverpool, England, in 1920
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Leff (post 1700) +

Robert Leff, American entrepreneur, co-founder of Merisel in 1980, a multi-billion dollar, multi-national computer products distributor
Arthur Allen Leff (1935-1981), American professor of law at the Yale Law School

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/