Lee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
China
England
Ireland

Etymology of Lee

What does the name Lee mean?

As a native Irish surname, Lee is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Laoidhigh, which comes from the word "laoidh," which means "a poem;" or from Mac Giolla Iosa, which means "son of the devotee of Jesus." However, Lee is also a common indigenous name in England, many families of which have been established in Ireland since at least the 17th century. 1

Early Origins of the Lee family

The surname Lee was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they were prominent in the west being anciently associated as hereditary physicians to the O'Flahertys.

Families with the McLees or McAlees spellings were traditionally doctors or physicians.

By the 16th century different branches had developed in Galway, in Leix, and in Munster at Cork and Limerick. The name in Gaelic was O'Laidhigh.

Early History of the Lee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lee research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1253, 1600, 1650 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Lee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lee Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Lee family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including McAlea, McAlee, MacAlee, MacAlea, MacLee, McLee, MacLees, McLees, MacLeas, McLeas, O'Lees, O'Leas, Lee and many more.

Early Notables of the Lee family

Colonel Lee of the Irish Brigades

Lee World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Lee is the 49^th most popular surname with an estimated 81,795 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Lee is ranked the 11^st most popular surname with an estimated 61,483 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Lee is the 16^th popular surname with an estimated 6,297 people with that name. 4 Canada ranks Lee as 7^th with 83,424 people. 5 Quebec, Canada ranks Lee as 528^th. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Lee as 153^rd with 252 people. 7 The United States ranks Lee as 24^th with 547,140 people. 8 France ranks Lee as 3,497^th with 2,000 - 2,500 people. 9 Netherlands ranks Lee as 861^st with 2,315 people. 10 South Africa ranks Lee as 732^nd with 9,412 people. 11

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 12
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 13

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 13
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 13
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 13
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 13
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 13

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 13

Following the First, Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Lee Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Lee, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13

Lee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Lee, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. George Lee, British convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. John Lee, British Convict who was convicted in Leicestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. John Lee, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. William Lee, English labourer who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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 18
... (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. 19

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 20
Mr. Richard Lee, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 21
Mr. Robert Lee, (b. 1602), aged 33, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 21
Mr. Walter Lee, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship "John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 22
Mr. Daniell Lee, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 23
... (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 24
Mr. David Lee U.E. who settled in Bastard [Rideau Lakes], Leeds and Greenville, Ontario c. 1784 24
Mr. Edward Lee U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 24
... (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 20
Samuel Lee, who arrived in America in 1620 20
Bridget Lee, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 20
Christopher Lee, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Southampton" 20
Tryphosa Lee, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 20
... (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 20
Hump Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1700 20
Eliz Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1705 20
Bryan Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1711 20
Philip Lee, who landed in Virginia in 1712 20
... (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 20
Arthur Lee, who landed in America in 1801-1802 20
Ezekiel Lee, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 20
Edward Lee, aged 23, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 20
Ephraim Lee, aged 26, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 20
... (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 20
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 25
Halvor Olson Lee, who landed in Wisconsin in 1907 20

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
William Lee (1941-2024), Irish Roman Catholic prelate, born in Newport, County Tipperary, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore between 1993 and 2013
Sheldon Albert Lee (1933-2025), Canadian politician, member of Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick for the riding of Charlotte Centre (1978-1995), then for the new district of Charlotte (1995-2003) from the 1995 New Brunswick General Election
George R. Lee (1935-2025), New York City Ballet's first Asian dancer
Clay Foster Lee Jr. (1930-2024), American Bishop of the United Methodist Church
Wei Ling Lee (1955-2024), Singaporean neurologist
Martin Lee (1946-2024), English singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group Brotherhood of Man, born as Martin Barnes
Hoi-sang Lee (1941-2024), Hong Kong martial arts film actor and martial artist, known for his roles in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) and Shaolin Challenges Ninja (1978)
... (Another 67 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Lee family +

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 26
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 27
... (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: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"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
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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
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)
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/daphne
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html