Surname Lefroy - Meaning and Origin
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Lefroy: What does the surname Lefroy mean?
The last name Lefroy is of French origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to mean " bishops ’lef" or literally one who works in the court of a bishop. Alternatively, the name could be the combination of two Old French names, Lef meaning ‘dear’, and Roy, meaning ‘king’.
Over time, the name has likely been altered due to mispronunciations or to sound better with the accent of the region it was being used in.
The meaning of the name also changes depending on its spelling. For example, Lefroy is of French origin, but LeFroy is of English extraction, and could mean "hallowed choice" or "lefthand side of the clearing".
The surname is most popular in France, but can also be found in England, Canada, Australia, and the United States.
In England, the LeFroy surname is associated with an early Norman family that later settled in Hampshire and Sussex. Members of this family were prominent in the English law and one was a noted traveller.
In Canada, the Lefroy family trace their genealogy to a Huguenot who came to Saybrook, Connecticut, some time prior to 1700.
The Lefroy family of France, England, Canada and the United States are all likely related in some way, sharing a common cultural heritage as well as a common surname.
Order DNA origin analysisLefroy: Where does the name Lefroy come from?
The last name Lefroy is common today across many countries. Primarily, it is found in Australia, Great Britain and France. In Australia, the Lefroy surname is especially common in Victoria and Western Australia, with nearly 1300 Lefroy families recorded in the Australian state of Victoria alone. In Great Britain, there are around 1200 individuals with the last name Lefroy, with the majority hailing from Somerset in the Southwest of England. In France, the Lefroy name is particularly common in the Normandy region.
Apart from these countries, smaller populations of individuals with the Lefroy surname can be found in places such as South Africa, Canada and New Zealand.
Distribution maps such as the Far Side Collection provide a visual representation of the last names’ geographic distribution with blue dots indicating the presence of the name in different areas throughout the world.
Tracing back through history, it is believed that Lefroy is derived from the Old French name lefroi, for a bald man and is likely of Norman origin. The name is likely to have been taken to Britain when William the Conqueror and his band of Norman knights invaded and settled in England in 1066.
Overall, the Lefroy last name is found around the world and is especially common in Australia, France and the UK. It is believed to have originated in France before making its way to Britain following the Norman invasion in 1066.
Variations of the surname Lefroy
The surname Lefroy is of ancient French origin and has numerous variants, spellings and other versions of the same original surname including le Fry, l’Froy, le Froi, le Fre, le Freaux, le Freau, le Freux, le Fresne, le Frise, le Froid, le Fraice, le Fraire, le Fraissin, le Fret, le Forge, le Foy, Lefevre and Loefroy.
The Lefroy family originally hailed from Normandy and the name is derived from the Old French word 'froi' meaning 'free'. The name usually referred to someone who was a freeman in their village. Later, the spelling of the name had many regional variations, which are still evident to this day. The Old French and Middle English spelling of the name was Le Fry, which became Lefroy and Lefroye with the Norman Conquest.
The variants, spellings and other versions of Lefroy is found all over Europe and beyond. The surname is especially prevalent in France, England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the United States, the earliest and most prominent branch of the Lefroy family can be found in Virginia and Maryland.
Lefroy is still an existing surname today, with some of its most famous bearers being Thomas Lefroy, a former Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, and William Henry Lefroy, an Admiral of the British Royal Navy.
Famous people with the name Lefroy
- Thomas Lefroy: Irish-born British politician, lawyer, and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1801 to 1827.
- Jemima Lefroy: English writer of historical romance novels who was also a talented portrait painter.
- Anna Maria Lefroy: British author who wrote under the pseudonym AML in the 19th century, best known for her novel Anna; Or, Memoirs of a Welch Heiress (1814).
- Henry Lefroy: British lawyer and author who was an early pioneer and advocate of women's rights in England.
- Edward Augustin Lefroy: British Army officer and politician who served as Governor of Tasmania from 1855 to 1861.
- Angela Lefroy: British civil servant and philanthropist who was the first woman to become a magistrate.
- William Lefroy: English clergyman and author who was an avid advocate of classical education.
- Benjamin Lefroy: British astronomer and geologist who published works on meteorology, astronomy, geology and optics.
- Arthur Lefroy: British lawyer and politician who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hastings in the early 20th century.
- Alan John Lefroy: British botanist who was a professor of botany at Imperial College London.