| ![Show Contents]() Leah History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of LeahWhat does the name Leah mean? While many of Irish names are quite familiar to most, their original Gaelic forms are often forgotten and mysterious. The original Gaelic form of the name Leah is Ó Laochdha, which is derived from the word laochdha, which means heroic. 1 Early Origins of the Leah familyThe surname Leah was first found in County Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and were descended from the tribe of Uaithne. Early History of the Leah familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leah research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1270, 1420 and 1641 are included under the topic Early Leah History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Leah Spelling VariationsPronunciation, rather than spelling, was what guided scribes and church officials in recording names, a practice that often led to the misleading result of one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Leah are preserved in documents that were examined for evidence of the family's history. The various spellings of Leah included Leahy, Leahey, Leghe, Lahey, Lahy, O'Leahy and others. Early Notables of the Leah familyMore information is included under the topic Early Leah Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Leah 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: Leah Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Miss Mary Ann Leah, (b. 1848), aged 19, British nursemaid travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1867 2
- Mr. Joseph Leah, (b. 1856), aged 23, Cornish ploughman departing on 19th July 1879 aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1879 3
- Mrs. Martha J. Leah, (b. 1856), aged 23, Cornish settler departing on 19th July 1879 aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 14th October 1879 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Leah (post 1700) | + |
- Norma Leah McCorvey (1947-2017), better known by the legal pseudonym "Jane Roe", American plaintiff in the famous lawsuit Roe v. Wade
- Hallee Leah Hirsh (b. 1987), American actress known for her role as Daley in the children's series Flight 29 Down
- Charlotte Leah Salt (b. 1985), English actress
- Gary Leah Thomasson (b. 1951), American former outfielder in Major League Baseball 4
- Leah Kunkel (1948-2024), née Cohen, American singer and attorney
- Leah Van Dale (b. 1987), American professional wrestler known as Carmella, dancer and model
- Leah Thall- Neuberger (1915-1993), nicknamed Miss Ping, an American table tennis player, ranked the No. 3 in the world in 1951
- Leah Wortham, Associate Professor of Law at the School of Law at The Catholic University of America
- Leah Hayes (b. 2005), American swimmer
- Leah Claire Borrie, American director, known for her work on Babygirl (2021), The Day the World Expanded (2016) and Corbin Nash (2018)
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: Tout vient de dieu
Motto Translation: All comes from God.
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