Lightley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Lightley family

The surname Lightley was first found in Lancashire at Lightollers, an estate in the parish of Stockport. 1 One source presumes the Old English name was derived from "dweller by the light alders." 2

A very rare surname, the first record was that of Michael de Lightholres who was recorded here in the 13th century. 3

Moving forward hundreds of years, the Lancashire Inquisitions notes John Lightowlers, of Withnell, Lancashire, 1606-1607. The Wills at Chester record Robert Lightowler, of Wyndybank, 1620; James Chadwick, of Lightowlers, parish of Stockport. 1621; and Edmund Lightowler, of Castleton, 1633. 1

Early History of the Lightley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lightley research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1621, 1624 and 1631 are included under the topic Early Lightley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lightley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lightoller, Lightowler, Lightowlers, Liteowler, Liteoller and many more.

Early Notables of the Lightley family

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

Migration of the Lightley family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

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