Show ContentsLeyden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Leyden family

The surname Leyden was first found in Liddane, where they held a family seat as Chiefs in Tipperary. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable.

Early History of the Leyden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leyden research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leyden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leyden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Liddane, Leyden, Lidane, Lydon, Fenessey, O'Fennessy, Litany, Littany, Lyden, Lydan, Leyden, Finnessy, Finnessy and many more.

Early Notables of the Leyden family

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


United States Leyden migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leyden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Leyden, who landed in Virginia in 1607 1
Leyden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Leyden, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 1
  • Hugh Leyden, aged 44, who arrived in New York in 1812 1
  • Adam Leyden, who settled in Philadelphia in 1820
  • Walter Leyden who settled in Philadelphia in 1820
  • James Leyden, who settled in Philadelphia in 1852
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Leyden migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leyden Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Andrew Leyden who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Argo" but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 2
  • Mrs. Ann Leyden, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 2
  • Mr. James Leyden, aged 14 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Washington" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 147 2
  • Mr. Thomas Leyden, aged 12 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Washington" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 2

Australia Leyden migration to Australia +

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

Leyden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Leyden, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"

New Zealand Leyden migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Leyden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Leyden, aged 17, a bricklayer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1873

Contemporary Notables of the name Leyden (post 1700) +

  • Barbara W. Leyden (1949-2006), American palynologist and paleoecologist
  • William "Bill" Leyden (1917-1970), American television game show host and announcer, known for his work on It Could Be You (1956–1961), Your First Impression (1962–1964, with Dennis James), and You're Putting Me On (1969)
  • Norman Fowler Leyden (b. 1917), American conductor, arranger, and clarinetist
  • Brian Leyden (b. 1960), Irish writer from Arigna, County Roscommon
  • Kevin M. Leyden, Irish Professor of Political Science, National University of Ireland, Galway
  • Terry Leyden (b. 1945), Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Senator for the Labour Panel since September 2002
  • Matt Leyden, Canadian former ice hockey executive, President of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1965 to 1967, eponym of the Matt Leyden Trophy
  • Jessica Leyden (b. 1995), British bronze medalist rower at the 2017 European Championships
  • Paul Augustine Leyden (b. 1972), Australian actor, producer and screenwriter; best known for playing the role of Simon Frasier on the daytime soap opera As the World Turns
  • John Leyden (1775-1811), British orientalist


  1. 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)
  2. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 39)


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