| ![Show Contents]() Leonards History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of LeonardsWhat does the name Leonards mean? It was among those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain that the name Leonards was formed. The name was derived from the baptismal name for Leonard. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint. In this case the surname Leonards was originally derived from the well-known saint, St. Leonard who was a popular both in England and in France. Early Origins of the Leonards familyThe surname Leonards was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very early times. Early History of the Leonards familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leonards research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1570, 1590, 1591, 1600, 1604, 1615, 1616, 1637, 1654, 1661, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1698, 1701, 1709, 1715 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Leonards History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Leonards Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Leonards include Leonard, Leonards, Lennard and others. Early Notables of the Leonards familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Henry Lennard, 12th Baron Dacre (1570-1616), an English Baron and politician; Sampson Lennard (died 1615), of Chevening in Kent, an English Member of Parliament, High Sheriff of Kent (1590-1591); Sir Stephen Lennard (c. 1604-1680), 1st Baronet of West Wickham; and his son...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leonards Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Leonards family to IrelandSome of the Leonards family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Leonards migration to the United States | + |
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Leonards were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
Leonards Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Thomas Leonards, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 1
| Leonards migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Leonards Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mary Leonards, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"
- 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)
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