Show ContentsLillie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Lillie is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that is derived from the popular female personal name Elizabeth. The name Lillie 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 in Hertfordshire or in the place called Lilly in Berkshire. In this case, the name Lillie belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Lillie family

The surname Lillie was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Lillie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lillie research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1553, 1560, 1578, 1580, 1602, 1606, 1618, 1652, 1680, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lillie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lillie Spelling Variations

Lillie 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 Lillie have been found, including Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others.

Early Notables of the Lillie family

Distinguished members of the family include 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), an English writer, poet, dramatist, playwright, and politician, best known for his books "Euphues, The...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lillie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lillie Ranking

In the United States, the name Lillie is the 6,170th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Lillie family to Ireland

Some of the Lillie 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.


United States Lillie migration to the United States +

In 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 Lillies to arrive on North American shores:

Lillie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Lillie, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Edward Lillie, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 2
  • George Lillie, who landed in Reading, Massachusetts in 1658 2
Lillie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hundrick Lillie, aged 22, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
Lillie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Lillie, who landed in Mississippi in 1860 2
Lillie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Philip L Lillie, who landed in Wisconsin in 1907 2

Canada Lillie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lillie Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Lillie U.E. who settled in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick c. 1784 member of the Penobscot Association 3
Lillie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Robert Lillie, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1815
  • Orren Lillie, who arrived in Canada in 1828
  • Turner Lillie, who landed in Canada in 1830

New Zealand Lillie 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:

Lillie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Lillie, aged 18, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 4
  • Agnes Lillie, aged 18, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Lillie (post 1700) +

  • May Lillie (1869-1936), born Mary E. "May" Manning, American sharpshooter, expert “lady” rider, buffalo rancher, inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame
  • James J. Lillie (1861-1890), American Major League Baseball outfielder
  • Mildred Lillie (1915-2002), American judge who was shortlisted by President Richard Nixon for the Supreme Court of the United States in 1971
  • Frank Rattray Lillie (1870-1947), Canadian-born, American zoologist and educator
  • Hugh D. Lillie, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • Walter I. Lillie, American Republican politician, U.S. Collector of Customs, 1909; Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1915 5
  • Robert A. Lillie, American Republican politician, Supervisor of Pittsfield Township, Michigan, 1969-83 5
  • Marcus Lillie, American politician, Member of Connecticut State Senate 21st District, 1860 5
  • Fred B. Lillie, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Lebanon, 1926 5
  • Colon C. Lillie (b. 1860), American Republican politician, Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention 23rd District, 1907-08 5
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook