| ![Show Contents]() Leighty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Leighty was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the baptismal name Lettice, a popular girls name in medieval times. This personal name was originally derived from the Latin laetitia, which means gladness and joy. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames. Early Origins of the Leighty familyThe surname Leighty was first found in Gloucestershire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Lett, before the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086. Early History of the Leighty familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leighty research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1864, 1956, 1963, 1972 and 1981 are included under the topic Early Leighty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Leighty Spelling VariationsLeighty has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Leighty have been found, including Lett, Layt, Laite, Layte, Let, Lete, Latt, Leyt, Letts, Lettson and many more. Early Notables of the Leighty familyMore information is included under the topic Early Leighty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Leighty RankingIn the United States, the name Leighty is the 14,848th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Leighty family to Ireland
Some of the Leighty family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Leighty familyIn an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Leightys to arrive on North American shores: John, Leonard and Thomas Lett, who settled in Virginia in 1651; Elizabeth may have been a wife or child of one of the foregoing; Thomas Lett arrived in Barbados in 1635.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Leighty (post 1700) | + |
- W. H. Leighty, American politician, Mayor of Brookings, South Dakota, 1909-13, 1917-20
- Norma J. Leighty, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 2000
- Jacob D. Leighty (1839-1912), American Republican politician, Member of Indiana State House of Representatives, 1886; U.S. Representative from Indiana 12th District, 1895-97
- E. C. Leighty, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Westmoreland County, 1879-80
- John A. Leighty, American chemist for Eli Lilly, eponym of Leighty Commons at Purdue University
- Osa Leighty (1894-1953), birth name of Osa Helen Johnson, American adventurer and documentary filmmaker who with her husband Martin Elmer Johnson were photographers, explorers, marketers, naturalists and authors who went on safaris, big game hunts and both founded the Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum in Chanute, Kansas
- Jacob D. Leighty (1839-1912), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana (1895-1897), Member of the Indiana House of Representatives (1886-1888)
|
England
Ireland
