Leighthwaite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Leighthwaite

What does the name Leighthwaite mean?

Leighthwaite is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Lewthwaite, a village in Cumberland. The place-name Lewthwaite is derived from the Old English words hlæw, which meant "burial mound," and thwaite, which meant "cleared land, pasture land." The name as a whole meant "burial mounds in the fields." The family name is derived from the name of the village.

Early Origins of the Leighthwaite family

The surname Leighthwaite was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Leighthwaite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leighthwaite research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leighthwaite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leighthwaite Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Leighthwaite family name include Lewthwaite, Laithwaite, Lawthwaite and others.

Early Notables of the Leighthwaite family

More information is included under the topic Early Leighthwaite Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leighthwaite family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Leighthwaite surname or a spelling variation of the name include: John Lewthwaite settled in Virginia in 1775.

The Leighthwaite 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: Tendens ad aethera virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue aspirng toward heaven.