Show ContentsLylie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lylie

What does the name Lylie mean?

The generations and branches of the Lylie family share a name that has its roots in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name Lylie comes from the popular female personal name Elizabeth, derived from Lyliesis. 1 The name Lylie 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 Lylie family

The surname Lylie 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 Lylie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lylie 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 Lylie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lylie Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Lylie include Lillie, Lilie, Lilley, Lilly and others.

Early Notables of the Lylie family

  • 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 "Euphues and His England"...

Migration of the Lylie family to Ireland

Some of the Lylie 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 Lylie family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Lylie or a variant listed above: 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.

  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.

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