Surname Lessie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Lessie: What does the surname Lessie mean?
The surname Lessie is of French origin and is derived from the personal name Lessard, which in turn comes from the Old German name Laso, meaning “famous warrior”. This kind of descriptive surname was developed to describe an individual with a similar quality or physical characteristic.
The surname would have been taken on by families as a way to distinguish between two individuals of the same name. It could also have been adopted by fleeing settlers from France to Great Britain, especially during the era of the Hundred Years' War. Within Great Britain, the surname Lessie is found particularly in London and the County Durham areas.
Variations of the surname can include L’Esse, Lessy, Lasset, Lessey, Lecey and Lece. These slight variations of spelling are often a result of cultural influences on language, and can result in different pronunciations.
At the simplest level, the meaning of the surname Lessie is a “famous warrior”. It highlights the bravery and strength of its bearer and could have been a sign of admiration of a particular warrior or a larger movement. The surname was taken on by Frenchmen looking to make their mark on the world, or by English families looking to honor their French ancestry. Whatever the reason, for bearers of the last name Lessie, it’s a mark of courage, strength and prowess.
Order DNA origin analysisLessie: Where does the name Lessie come from?
The last name Lessie is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada, as well as other countries of European heritage. It is particularly common in Southern states and can be found with a higher than average frequency in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The surname is derived from the French word les which means "the" and can be traced back to the Normans who brought it over to Britain during their invasion of the 10th century.
The earliest records of the surname in the United Kingdom can be traced back to 1273 in Lancashire and 1379 in Scotland. In more modern times, the surname can be found in countries all across the globe. In the United States, it was most common in the southern states, with the highest density being in the state of Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama.
The last name Lessie is also common in Canada, particularly in French-speaking provinces like Quebec, and can be found in other English-speaking provinces like Ontario and Saskatchewan. The surname is also associated with French-speaking islands like Guadeloupe and Martinique. There have also been records of the surname in South America, particularly in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.
Overall, the last name Lessie is a fairly common name today, particularly in the United States, Canada, and other countries of French heritage. It is largely associated with the southern states of the United States, as well as French-speaking countries like Canada, the Caribbean, and South America.
Variations of the surname Lessie
The surname LESSIE is of German origin. Variations of this surname include Leße, Lesse, Leß, Lessee, Les, Lisse, Lessi, Lessey, Lissy, and Lise. As German immigrants moved to the United States in the 1700s and 1800s, spellings were changed to be easier to say and spell in English. Therefore, variants such as Lacy, Lecey, Lese, Lassie, Lassee, Lessley, Lessly, Lesley, and Lisle have also been used.
The surname LESSIE is a corrupted form of the German name Leße. This name was derived from an old German word, lese, meaning “low” or “humble”. The surname Leße evolved from the German personal name Leso. The given name Leso is derived from the Germanic element leud meaning “people.”
The LESSIE surname is common in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In some regions of the United States, LESSIE is also spelled as LECY. In other countries, the LECY form of the surname is less common. Spelling variations for the LESSIE surname include LACI, LASEY, LACY, LEASLY, LASE, LASSEY, LECE, LEESE, LESLY, and LYSE.
The LESSIE surname is present in many different cultures. It is found among German, Irish, English, and Scottish families, as well as Scottish clans. In Scotland, where the LESSIE surname is more common form of the name LECY, the name is often spelled as Lesley, Lesely, or Lisely.
The LECY and LESSIE surnames are found today in North and South America, Canada, and Europe. It is estimated that there are nearly 15,000 people who bear the LESSIE name in the United States alone. The surname is most prominent in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Kentucky.
Famous people with the name Lessie
- Richard Lessie, American Major League Baseball outfielder
- Terah Charles Lessie, American diplomat
- James Lessie, American professional basketball player
- Billie Jean Lessie, American professional golfer
- Arthur Lessie Goncalves, Brazilian footballer
- Myriame Lessie, French professional basketball player
- Donga Lessie, Australian actor
- Calvina Lesse, Haitian singer-songwriter
- Shekinah Glessie, British actor and screenwriter
- George Lessie, New Zealand advocate and politician
- Adriaan Daniël Lessie, Danish-American architect
- Bradley Lessie, English stage actor
- David Lessie, French actor and film director
- Maggie Lesslie, Canadian actress
- Juan Lessie, Mexican chef
- Lawrence Lessie, American documentarian
- Jessica Lesse, American model
- Wayne Lessie, Canadian sound designer
- Irene Lesse, Italian politician
- Nicholas Lessie, Norwegian educator