Show ContentsLee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lee

What does the name Lee mean?

The name Lee was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Lee family lived in any of the various places named Leigh in England. There are at least 16 counties that contain a place named Leigh. The place-name was originally derived from the Old English word leah, which means wood clearing. 1 The English Lee family is descended from the Norman Lee family. The family name Lee became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats. The Normans frequently adopted the names of their recently acquired estates in England.

Early Origins of the Lee family

The surname Lee was first found in Cheshire, at High Leigh, where the name is from "an eminent family, who for centuries in that county nearly all the gentry families of that name claim descent." 2

Of note are the following ancient families: Legh of East Hall, in High Legh, county Chester, descended from Efward de Lega, who lived at or near the period of the Conquest and who appears to have a Saxon origin; Leigh of West Hall, in High Leigh, originally De Lynne who married a Legh heiress in the 13th century; and Leigh of Adlestrop (Baron Leigh) county Gloucester, descended from Agens, daughter and heiress of Richard de Legh. 3

"The Lees of Lee, and Darnhall, co. Chester, now represented by the Townshends of Hem and Trevallyn, and the Lees of Quarendon, Bucks, of whom was the gallant Sir Henry Lee, K.G. and the Lees of Ditchley, Earls of Lichfield, whose descendant Viscount Dillon now possesses the Ditchley estate, spring from the De Lee of Battle Abbey." 4

Leigh is a fairly common place name that dates back to pre-Conquest times as Leigh, Herefordshire and Worcestershire were both listed as Beornothesleah in 972. 1

There are over nineteen villages that are either named Leigh or include Leigh in their name throughout Britain. The parish of Hughley in Shropshire derives "its name from Hugh de Lea, proprietor of the manor in the twelfth century, and ancestor of the Leas of Langley and Lea Hall." 5

"The township [of Poulton with Fearnhead, Lancashire] has been the property of the Legh family, of Lyme, since their union with the Haydocks. Bruch, or Birch, the old manor-house, existing in the 12th of Charles I., was given by Sir Peter Legh to his fourth son Peter, whose grand-daughter married the grandson of Dr. Thomas Legh, the third son of Sir Peter." 5

Down in Devon, "a Totnes man, Sir Edmund Lye, ranks among the boldest seamen of Elizabethan days, and as one of the heroes who bore his part in the defeat of the Invincible Armada. Totnes contributed largely towards the fitting out of the Crescent and the Hart, two vessels sent from Dartmouth to join the Anti-Armada fleet. " 6

Early History of the Lee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lee research. Another 252 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1548, 1563, 1583, 1589, 1600, 1614, 1634, 1639, 1640, 1642, 1651, 1653, 1656, 1659, 1660, 1662, 1663, 1667, 1678, 1681, 1687, 1692, 1694, 1701, 1702, 1705, 1711, 1713, 1716, 1717, 1721, 1722, 1743, 1760, 1767, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lee Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Leigh, Lee, Lea, Legh, Leghe, Ligh, Lighe, Leyie, Ley and many more.

Early Notables of the Lee family

  • William Lee (1563-1614), English clergyman and inventor of the first stocking frame knitting machine in 1589
  • Sir Richard Lee, 2nd Baronet (ca. 1600-1660), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642, supporter of the Royalist side in the English Civil War
  • Sir Francis Henry Lee, 4th Baronet (1639-1667), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1667
  • Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653-1692), an English dramatist
  • Richard Henry Lee of Virginia and Francis Lightfoot Lee also of Virginia, both signers of the American Declaration of Independence
  • Sir Edward Henry Lee, 5th Baronet, of Ditchley and of Quarendon, created 1st Earl of Lichfield (1663-1716), an English peer
  • Charlotte Lee, Lady Baltimore (1678-1721), an English noblewoman, granddaughter of King Charles II of England

Lee World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Lee is the 49th most popular surname with an estimated 81,795 people with that name. 7 However, in Australia, the name Lee is ranked the 11st most popular surname with an estimated 61,483 people with that name. 8 And in New Zealand, the name Lee is the 16th popular surname with an estimated 6,297 people with that name. 9 Canada ranks Lee as 7th with 83,424 people. 10 Quebec, Canada ranks Lee as 528th. 11 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Lee as 153rd with 252 people. 12 The United States ranks Lee as 24th with 547,140 people. 13 France ranks Lee as 3,497th with 2,000 - 2,500 people. 14 Netherlands ranks Lee as 861st with 2,315 people. 15 South Africa ranks Lee as 732nd with 9,412 people. 16

Migration of the Lee family to Ireland

Some of the Lee family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lee migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet, Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. Abraham Lee, (1765 - 1819), aged 24, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 17
  • Mr. George Lee, British settler convicted at London, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 18
Second Fleet
  • Miss Elizabeth Lee, (1771 - 1860), aged 19, British settler convicted in England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for stealing clothes, transported aboard the ship "Mary Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 18
  • Mr. George Lee, (1747 - 1796), aged 43, British settler convicted in Kent, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 18
  • Mr. John Lee, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Active" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 18
  • Mr. John Lee, (1763 - 1823), aged 27, British settler convicted in Lancashire, England in 1789, sentenced to 7 years for felony, transported aboard the ship "HMS Gorgon" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 18
  • Mr. Patrick Lee, (d. 1792), aged 26, British settler convicted in Lincolnshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Queen" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 18
Third Fleet
  • Miss Elizabeth Lee, (b. 1763), aged 24, English settler convicted in London on 23rd February 1785, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Lady Penrhyn" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 18
Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Lee Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Lee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Lee 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:

Lee Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Walter Lee, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Michael Lee, aged 20, a sawyer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cuba" in 1840
  • James Lee, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • Elizabeth Lee, aged 26, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mary Ann" in 1842
  • Mr. John Lee, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Marys" arriving in New Zealand in 1848 23
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lee migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 24
Lee Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Lee, (b. 1614), aged 20, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 25
  • Mr. Richard Lee, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 26
  • Mr. Robert Lee, (b. 1602), aged 33, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 26
  • Mr. Walter Lee, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship "John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 27
  • Mr. Daniell Lee, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 28
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Lee migration to Canada +

Lee Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Edward Lee, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Benjamin Lee, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Mr. Daniel Lee Sr., U.E. (b. 1754) born in Worcester, England from Pembroke, Maine, USA who settled in St. George, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 married to Martha Ash they had 9 children, he died in 1818 Bonny River, New Brunswick 29
  • Mr. David Lee U.E. who settled in Bastard [Rideau Lakes], Leeds and Greenville, Ontario c. 1784 29
  • Mr. Edward Lee U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 29
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lee Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Lee, who landed in Canada in 1829
  • Andrew Lee, aged 20, a smith, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
  • Sarah Lee, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
  • Daniel Lee, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
  • Judith Lee, aged 10, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lee Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • J Lee, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
  • Mrs. Lee, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
  • Miss E Lee, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
  • H Lee, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
  • Miss F Lee, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Lee migration to the United States +



Lee Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Bridget Lee, who landed in America in 1620 25
  • Samuel Lee, who arrived in America in 1620 25
  • Bridget Lee, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 25
  • Christopher Lee, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Southampton" 25
  • Tryphosa Lee, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 25
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lee Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Pricilla Lee, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 25
  • Hump Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1700 25
  • Eliz Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1705 25
  • Bryan Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1711 25
  • Philip Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1712 25
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lee Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Lee, who arrived in New York in 1800 25
  • Arthur Lee, who landed in America in 1801-1802 25
  • Ezekiel Lee, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 25
  • Edward Lee, aged 23, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 25
  • Ephraim Lee, aged 26, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 25
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lee Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Sol N Lee, who arrived in New York, NY in 1900 25
  • Mr. James Lee, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish baker, from Pelynt, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 24th April 1903 en route to Canton, Illinois, USA 30
  • Halvor Olson Lee, who landed in Wisconsin in 1907 25

Contemporary Notables of the name Lee (post 1700) +

  • Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), American and Confederate soldier, best known as a commander of the Confederate States Army
  • Nelle Harper Lee (1926-2016), American author who received the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 for her only novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom of the United States in 2007 for her contribution to literature
  • Martin Lee (1946-2024), English singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group Brotherhood of Man, born as Martin Barnes
  • Francis Henry Lee CBE (1944-2023), also known as Franny Lee, an English professional footballer and businessman
  • Gordon Francis Lee (1934-2022), English footballer who played 120 league matches in a 12-year career and later a football manager (1968-1991)
  • Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee CBE, CStJ (1922-2015), English twenty-two award winning actor and musician, recently known for his Star Wars and Lord of the Rings appearances, but also remembered for his role as Dracula and as a villain in "The Man with the Golden Gun, " awarded a BAFTA Fellowship in 2011 and the BFI Fellowship in 2013 31
  • Alvin Lee (1944-2013), born Graham Alvin Barnes, an English rock guitarist and singer, best known as the lead guitarist and singer with blues-rock band Ten Years After
  • Vernon Lee (1856-1935), English aesthetic philosopher
  • Laurence Edward Alan "Laurie" Lee (1914-1997), English poet, novelist, and screenwriter
  • ... (Another 67 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cataraqui
  • Andrew Lee, British crew who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
  • Michael John Lee (d. 1943), Australian Seaman who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Thomas Albert Lee (1920-1943), Australian Acting Corporal who died aboard the ship "Centaur" an Australian hospital ship when torpedoed on 14th May 1943
  • Mr. Sydney Lee, British Cook from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 32
  • Mrs. Ethel Mary Lee (1892-1914), née Durham Canadian Third Class Passenger from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 33
  • ... (Another 25 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Lee Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Force avec vertu
Motto Translation: Strength with virtue.

Suggested Readings for the name Lee +

  • Descendants & Ancestors of Charles & Fanny Crandall Lee by Earl Lee Smith.
  • Lee of Virginia by Edmund Jennings Lee.
  • Hezekiah Leigh by John D. Gifford.
  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  4. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  11. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  12. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  13. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  14. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  15. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  16. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  17. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  23. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  25. 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)
  26. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  27. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/daphne
  28. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  29. 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
  30. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  31. Christopher Lee. (Retrieved 2011, July 13) Christopher Lee. Retrieved from http://christopherleeweb.com
  32. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html

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