Show ContentsLillard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lillard

What does the name Lillard mean?

The origins of the name Lillard are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from the popular female personal name Elizabeth, derived from Lyliesis. 1 The name Lillard is a metronymic surname, which is derived from the name of the mother. Occasionally, the surname is derived from residence in the settlement of Lilley (meadow where flax was grown) in Hertfordshire or in the place called Lilly in Berkshire. 2 "The Berkshire Lilly seems to be the Lilling-leáh of an Anglo-Saxon charter-Lill-, the fairly common personal name." 3

Early Origins of the Lillard family

The surname Lillard was first found in Bedfordshire where Alan Lilie was found in the Assize Rolls of 1247. Later in Yorkshire, we found Thomas son of Lylie recorded at Wakefield in 1296. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings for the family, both in Oxfordshire: Nicholas Lilie; and William Lilie whereas the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Beatrix Lyly as holding lands there at that time. 4

"Lilley and Lill are ancient Lincolnshire names. There was a Hugh Lilly in the wapentake of 'Aswardhurn,' South Lincolnshire, in the reign of Edward I.; at the same time the names of Lille and Lilie occurred in Oxfordshire." 5

Early History of the Lillard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lillard research. Another 192 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1546, 1553, 1560, 1564, 1571, 1578, 1580, 1602, 1605, 1606, 1618, 1652, 1680, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lillard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lillard Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Lillard has been spelled many different ways, including Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others.

Early Notables of the Lillard family

Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), born Pieter van der Faes, a Dutch painter whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court. John Lyly (Lilly or Lylie; c.1553-1606), was an English writer, poet, dramatist, playwright, and politician, best known for his books "Euphues, The Anatomy of Wit" (1578) and...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lillard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lillard Ranking

the United States, the name Lillard is the 6,857th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Lillard family to Ireland

Some of the Lillard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 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 Lillard family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Lillards to arrive in North America: John Lilie who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738; Richard Lilley settled in Virginia in 1656; James Lilley settled in Virginia in 1774; Henry Lilley settled in Virginia in 1642.

Contemporary Notables of the name Lillard (post 1700) +

  • William Lillard (d. 1826), American politician, appointed Justice of the Court of Pleas in 1797 7
  • John Frank Lillard Jr. (1911-1997), American politician and lawyer 8
  • David H. Lillard Jr. (b. 1953), American lawyer, politician and government official 8
  • Martha Ann Lillard (b. 1948), American polio survivor who lives in an iron lung, she contracted polo in 1953
  • William Harvey Lillard (1856-1925), African-American janitor and first chiropractic patient
  • Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (b. 1990), American professional basketball player
  • William Beverly Lillard (1918-2009), American professional baseball player
  • Walter Huston "Cappy" Lillard (1881-1967), American football coach and educator
  • Charles "Red" Lillard (1944-1997), American poet and historian
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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