Show ContentsLively History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Lively family

The surname Lively was first found in Picardy (French: Picardie) in northern France, where the family has been a prominent family for centuries, and held a family seat with lands and manor. The family were well established in the region of the Somme and several members of the family distinguished themselves through their contributions toward the community in which they lived and were rewarded with lands, titles and letters patent confirming their nobility.

Early History of the Lively family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lively research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lively History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lively Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hively, Heilly, Heillet, Helie, Helly, Hevelet, Lively, L'Ively and many more.

Early Notables of the Lively family

More information is included under the topic Early Lively Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lively Ranking

In the United States, the name Lively is the 2,819th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1


Lively migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lively Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matthew Lively, who arrived in Virginia in 1734
Lively Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • H. Lively, who settled in New York, NY in 1821
  • George Lively, who settled in San Francisco in 1852
  • Michael Lively, who settled in Indiana sometime between 1849 and 1854
  • Dennis Lively, who arrived in Kansas in 1872
Lively Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Micheal Lively, who arrived in Indiana in 1900
  • James Lively, who arrived in Indiana in 1900

Lively migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lively Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Reuben Lively U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Lively Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Lively, who settled in Ontario in 1871
  • Elizabeth Lively, who settled in Ontario in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Lively (post 1700) +

  • Blake Lively (b. 1987), born Blake Ellender Brown, an American actress, model and celebrity homemaker, best known for her staring role as Serena van der Woodsen in the CW drama Gossip Girl, current wife of Ryan Reynolds
  • Ernie Lively (1947-2021), born Ernest Wilson Brown Jr., an American actor and acting coach, and the father of actors Eric Lively and Blake Lively
  • Franklin Pierce Lively (1921-2016), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1989-2016)
  • Henry Everett "Jack" Lively (1885-1967), American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played for the 1911 Detroit Tigers, father of Buddy Lively
  • Everett Adrian "Buddy" Lively (1925-2015), nicknamed "Red", American Major League Baseball player who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1947 to 1949
  • Zack Lively (b. 1987), American actor best known for his role as Heath on ABC Family's GREEK
  • Scott Douglas Lively (b. 1957), American author, attorney, social activist and political candidate for Governor of Massachusetts (2014)
  • Robyn Elaine Lively (b. 1972), American actress, best known for her role in the film Teen Witch
  • Jason Lively (b. 1968), American actor
  • Lori Lynn Lively (b. 1966), American actress and television co-host/designer
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. William  Lively (1882-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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
  3. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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