Show ContentsLequeux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Lequeux Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lequeux

What does the name Lequeux mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Lequeux comes from when its first bearer worked as a person who worked as the cook. The surname was originally derived from the Old French terms queu, keu, kieu, cu, which denoted the cook or someone who operated an eating house. 1 The present-day French forms are Le Queu and Le Queux. 2

Early Origins of the Lequeux family

The surname Lequeux was first found in Norfolk, England where Roger le Cu was recorded in the Feet of Fines for 1196. Later in Leicestershire, William Kue was found in the Pipe Rolls for 1203 and William le Keu was listed in the Feet of Fines for Cheshire in 1231. Over the Lancashire, we found Hugh le Kew listed in the Assize Rolls for 1246. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include the following entries: Nicholas le Keu, Nottinghamshire; and Walter le Keu, Oxfordshire, while the Writs of Parliament lists William le Keu, 1301; William Cocus, 1302; and William le Keu, or Cocus, 1306. 3

In Scotland, the name has similar origins, specifically from the occupation of "cook," from Latin coquus. "John le Keu, a Scots prisoner taken at the capture of Dunbar Castle, was sent to Montgomery Castle in 1296. William le Keu of Knolle in the county of Lanark and Richard le Keu of the county of Fife, rendered homage for their lands in the same year, and Cristin le Cu of Stratherne was a Scots prisoner in Carlisle Castle in 1305. The seal of William of Knolle bears a raven and S' Will' Cod de Knol. Hugh Kew de Den was a notary public in Aberdeen in 1451. 4

Early History of the Lequeux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lequeux research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1296, 1305, 1688 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Lequeux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lequeux Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Lequeux include Kew, Kiew, Keu, le Keu, Cocus and others.

Early Notables of the Lequeux family

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

Lequeux Ranking

In France, the name Lequeux is the 1,961st most popular surname with an estimated 3,171 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Lequeux family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Lequeux or a variant listed above: Anne Kew with her husband and servants settled in Barbados in 1680; Robert Kew settled in Virginia in 1663; Nicholas Kew settled in Antigua in 1679.

  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/

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