Leonard Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Leonard Origin:

France, Ireland, Scotland, England

Origins of Name:

The surname of Leonard is said to originate from Germanic and Irish derivatives. One possible origin of the surname of Leonard is from the Pre 7th Century Old Germanic personal name “Leonhard” and it is composed of two elements. The first element of this personal name is from the Germanic “levon” which can be translated to mean “lion” and the Germanic “hardu” which can be translated to mean “brave” or “hardy.” The surname with Irish derivatives may possibly from the same sources, or as a form of the Gaelic surname O’Leannain. The element of O’ means “descendant of” usually referring to “son of” and “Leannan” is a byname that can be translated to mean “lover”

Variations:

More common variations are:

Leonnard, Leonardi, Leonardo, Leonardt, Leonardy, Leionard, Leonhard, Leonarde, Leonarda, Leaonard, Leonards, Lenard, Lennard

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Leonard was in the country of England in the year 1221. This person, who was one Stephanus Leonardus, who was recorded in the Assize Court Tolls of Worcestershire. This document was ordered and decreed under the reign of King Henry III of England, who ruled from the year 1216 to the year 1272. Other mentions of the surname of Leonard were in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire as one Agnes Leonard in the year 1272. Those who bear the surname of Leonard in England could be found originally in the county of Huntingdonshire, while today those who carry this surname can be found in Yorkshire and Lancashire counties, as well as the city of London.

Germany:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Leonard in Germany was on Johnannes Leonardi appears in the Charters of the City of Ulm in the year 1479. Those in Germany spell this surname as Leonard and Leonhardt in modern times. Those who bear the surname of Leonard can be found in the city of Ulm in large concentrations.

Scotland:

Those who bear the surname of Leonard can be found in the country of Scotland in high concentrations. The places where there are many people who bear the surname of Leonard are the counties of Lanarkshire, Angus and the Orkney Islands.

United States of America:

During the European Migration, many English immigrants left their homeland in search of a new and prosperous life. A rather large number of these immigrants bore the surname of Leonard, and landed in the United States of America and settled in the states of New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Indiana, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and Iowa. The first person to bear the surname of Leonard and settle in the United States of America was one Solomon Leonard, who landed in the state of Virginia in the year 1633. Soon after, in the year of 1635, both James Leonard and Katherine Leonard also arrived in the state of Virginia. Five years later, in the year 1640, Henry Leonard landed in the state of Massachusetts, and sixty-three years later, in the year 1703, one Cha Leonard arrived in the state of Virginia and settled there to begin a new life.

Leonard Today:

United States 103, 174

Tanzania 58,312

England 12,804

Nigeria 11,615

France 10,029

Canada 9,078

South Africa 7,306

Haiti 6,300

Australia 5,257

Ireland 4,471

Notable People:

Gloria Leonard (1940-2014) who was a pornographic actress from America, and was a board member of the Adult Video Association and its successor, The Free Speech Coalition

Edgar Leonard (1881-1948) who was a gold and bronze Olympic medalist from America for tennis at the 1904 Summer Olympic Games

Mr. Lionel Leonard (died in 1912) who was an American 3rd Class from New York City, New York, who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking

Major-General John William Leonard (1890-1974) who was a Commanding General in the 2nd Armored Division in the year 1946

Richard W. Leonard, who was a Candidate for the U.S. Representative from New Hampshire in the 2nd District in the year 1948, was a Candidate for the primary New Hampshire Governor’s Council in the 4th District in the year 1956, and who was an American Democrat politician

Robert Leonard, who was a Candidate in the primary for the Michigan State Senate 5th District in the year 1978

Robert F. Leonard, who was a Candidate for the Delegate to the Michigan State Constitutional Convention from the 13th Senatorial District in the year 1961, who was also a Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan’s 7th District

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Reg. Ulster’s Office). Per fess dancettee ar. and az. a fess gu.
2) (Chevening; allowed at the funeral of Mrs. Leonard, of Knole). Or, on a fess gu. three fleurs-de-lis of the first.
3) Az. three garbs ar.
4) Or, on a fesse az. three fleurs-de-lis ar. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet or, a tiger’s head ar.