Surname Lephew - Meaning and Origin
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Lephew: What does the surname Lephew mean?
The last name Lephew is of French origin and is derived from the French word 'lepretre', which translates to 'the priest'. It is thought that the name Lephew was initially used to identify people whose ancestors were priests or had some other religious significance.
The Lephew name was first found in Normandy. During the 11th and 12th centuries, the family lived in a region known as Hainaut, France, before migrating to England and later Ireland. The Lephews were also known as Hainauts in the 12th century, and were noted as being of noble extraction.
In England, the name became more common after marriage alliances between members of the noblesse families and the house of Lephew. In Ireland, the Lephewey family settled during the reign of King James 1 in the early 1600's.
Throughout Europe, the Lephew family has held numerous titles and positions in the Peerage, such as Sir Jeffrey Lephew, who is one of the Holbrook baronets of Ireland.
The name has evolved over the centuries but has retained its strong religious root. Today, the Lephew name is found across the world, with its meaning representing a strong religious and family heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisLephew: Where does the name Lephew come from?
The last name Lephew is most commonly found in the United States. The exact number of Lephew's living in the US is not known, but the 2019 census showed that Leyphaw, Lefaw and a handful of other variations of the name Lephew were present in most US states.
The largest concentrations of people with the last name Lephew can be found in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Most of the Lephews in New England can trace their ancestry back to an early settler of Ipswich, Massachusetts called Thomas Lephew, who landed in the area in 1639.
A second area where the name is more common is in the Appalachian region of the southeastern United States, particularly in the states of West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. It is believed that the Lephews in this region are descended from Scottish settlers who made their way to America a few centuries ago.
The last name Lephew is not as commonly found elsewhere in the world, though there appear to be pockets of the family in Canada, Australia, and the UK. Records indicate that some Lephews have left Massachusetts for various parts of the world, perhaps in search of a better life.
Variations of the surname Lephew
The surname Lephew is of French origin, though the original derivation of the name is unclear. It is most commonly spelled Lephew, though various spellings such as Lephew, LePhew, Lefevre, LeFevre, LeFeuvre, and Levefre have been recorded throughout history. It is also possible that Lephew is an altered form of other surnames such as Lefebvre, LeFebvre, Lempheu, Lemphre, LeProf, LeProfy, LePree, LePrete, LePriest, or LePrez.
Lephew is one of the many surname variants that contains the root "fev," which is derived from the Latin "faber," meaning "blacksmith." This suggests that the original bearer of this name could have been a blacksmith, or perhaps of a family of blacksmiths. Over time, the spelling of this name has changed and become more varied, likely due to the fact that the French language quickly underwent a transformation from Latin, and therefore the pronunciation of names changed as well. As the spelling of the surname changed, certain dialects and cultural influences may have also altered the spelling into different variations.
The LeFevre surname, for example, is one of the closest variations to the Lephew surname. It was first established in Brittany, in northwest France, and is believed to have derived from either the Old French word "Fevre," meaning "fever," or from the word "fauves," meaning "destruction." It is also possible that the Lefevres originated from the Old Norse word "fjor," meaning "sturdy," and was used to describe a "strong-willed" blacksmith.
The LePree surname, another variant of Lephew, likely originated in Picardy, in the northern region of France. Its origin is derived from the French word "pree," meaning "praise," which was used to describe an individual who was admired or put on a pedestal.
Other variations of Lephew include Lempheu, LeProf, LeProfy, LePrete, LePriest, and LePrez. These names were likely derived from occupations such as blacksmiths, farmers, priests, professors, or other individuals who held a respected status in their communities.
No matter the variation, Lephew is generally associated with hard work, dedication, and creativity, and these values have been passed down through the generations of individuals who have carried this name.
Famous people with the name Lephew
- Jabari Lephew: professional ice hockey player active since 2019.
- Junior Lephew: American professional basketball player and coach.
- Jerome Lephew: former NFL cornerback and wide receiver.
- Keith Lephew: football coach and former quarterback at the University of Idaho.
- Vernon Lephew: professional boxer active since 2003.
- Tyler Lephew- Professional wrestler
- Ronnie Lephew: Former NBA player
- Tim Lephew: Former MLB pitcher
- Carole Lephew: Actress
- Matt Lephew: Rock and Roll musician
- Brandon Lephew: Adventure photographer
- Maurice Lephew: Voice actor
- Elle Lephew: TV presenter
- AJ Lephew: Paralympic athlete