| ![Show Contents]() Lily History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of LilyWhat does the name Lily mean? The name Lily has a rich and ancient history. It is an Anglo-Saxon name that was originally derived from the popular female personal name Elizabeth, derived from Lyliesis. 1 The name Lily 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 Lily familyThe surname Lily 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 Lily familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lily 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 Lily History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Lily Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Lily include Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others. Early Notables of the Lily familySir 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 Lily Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Lily family to IrelandSome of the Lily 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.
| Lily migration to the United States | + |
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:
Lily Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Bob Lily, aged 28, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Canada" in 1840 6
- J. Lily, aged 28, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Canada" in 1840 6
- J. Lily, aged 1, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Canada" in 1840 6
- Thomas Lily, aged 3, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Southerner" in 1842 6
- Samuel Lily, aged 24, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Southerner" in 1842 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lily Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Miss Lily, British settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Orotava" in 1903 7
- Miller Lily, aged 21, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Baltic” in 1905 6
- L. Lily, aged 1, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Baltic” in 1905 6
- Alice Lily, aged 29, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lucania” in 1905 6
- Walter Lily, aged infant, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Lucania” in 1905 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Lily (post 1700) | + |
- Robert H. Lily, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 48th District, 1897-98 8
- Audrey Lily Eagle CNZM (1925-2022), née Brodey, a New Zealand botanical illustrator, known for her work on New Zealand's distinctive trees and shrubs
- Mary Lily Nuckolls, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1996, 2000 9
- Lily McNicholas MBE (1909-1998), Irish nurse who volunteered in the Second World War, she survived the sinking of the Amsterdam, a hospital carrier transporting casualties to Britain from Normandy, France on 7 August 1944
- Lily Jacoba van den Broecke MBE (b. 1992), British rower who competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
- Lily Ebert MBE, BEM (1923-2024), born as Livia Engelman, Hungarian-born British Holocaust survivor and writer
- Lily Annabelle L. Travers (b. 1990), English actress
- Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson (b. 1989), known professionally as Lily James, an English actress she appeared in Just William, Downton Abbey, Cinderella, Baby Driver, Darkest Hour and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
- Lily James (b. 1989), stage name of Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson, an English Emmy Award nominated actress, known for her roles in War & Peace (2016), Downton Abbey (2012–2015) and Cinderella (2015)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Ellis Island Passenger Search (Retrieved 24th October 2022).https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/
- National Archives Australia Search (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, May 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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