Surname Leeson - Meaning and Origin
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Leeson: What does the surname Leeson mean?
The surname Leeson is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Leofwine". It is a combination of "leof" meaning "beloved" and "wine" meaning "friend". It was a popular name in the Middle Ages. Over time, "Leofwine" was shortened and transformed into various forms, one of them being Leeson. The surname could have also originated from a nickname for a person who gives "lessons" or as an occupational name for someone who is a "teacher", derived from the Middle English word "lesen", meaning "to teach". As surnames often originated from a person's occupation, location, or characteristic, someone named Leeson could have been known for being a beloved friend, or a teacher in their community. Like many surnames, it has evolved and changed over centuries. It is found in several countries today, including England, Ireland, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisLeeson: Where does the name Leeson come from?
The last name Leeson is English in origin, and is derived from the personal names "Leof" or "Leo," which are old Germanic names. The suffix "-son" means "son of," making the name mean "son of Leof" or "son of Leo". This name likely started being used during the Middle Ages in England.
The surname Leeson is common in England and other English-speaking countries today, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the highest density of Leesons reside in England, particularly in the Midlands and Northern England. It is regarded as relatively rare in comparison to other last names in these regions, but has spread out from England due to historic emigration patterns. The name is found in both urban and rural areas, and doesn't seem to be concentrated in a specific profession or social class. Notable people with the name include Nick Leeson, whose unauthorised trading caused the collapse of Barings Bank, and Canadian actor Bruce Leeson.
Variations of the surname Leeson
The surname Leeson has several variants and alternative spellings, mainly due to regional dialects, spelling mistakes in historical documents and transcription errors. Some of these include Leason, Leasen, Leasman, Leesman, Lease, Leesen, Leesing, Lissen, Lessen, Leason and Leezen.
The surname has English and Irish origins. In England, it was a patronymic name derived from the diminutive of the personal name "Lease," therefore "Leeson" would mean "son of Lease." A similar surname of the same origin is Lees.
Leeson is also a variant of the Irish surname Ó Laighseacháin, anglicized as Lysaght or Lisson, meaning "descendant of Laighseachán," implying "son of Lees."
It was also used as an equivalent for the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Íosa which is anglicized as Gillis, meaning "son of the devotee of Jesus."
As a surname, one of the first recorded instances of Leeson was in the year 1327 in Surrey, England. The variations in spelling tend to reflect the many ways names were recorded in official documents throughout history.
Please note that surname derivatives and variants often require genealogical or DNA research to confirm family connections and geographical origins.
Famous people with the name Leeson
- Shannon Leeson: Game Show Host, Producer and TV Personality
- Rachel Leeson: British Actress
- Paul Leeson: British Cardiologist
- James Leeson: British Composer and Musician
- Bryan Leeson: British Actor
- Simon Leeson: British Politician
- Carrie Leeson: British Acting Coach
- Andrew Leeson: British Entrepreneur
- Ryan Leeson: British Professional Wrestler
- Sam Leeson: British Film Editor and Producer
- Nick Leeson: British former derivatives broker who was responsible for the collapse of Barings Bank.
- Jonathan Leeson: British Journalist, TV Presenter and Radio Host
- Stephen Leeson: British Producer, Director and Film Editor
- Patricia Leeson: British Musician and Performing Artist
- Joe Leeson-Smith: British Videographer and Film-maker