Surname Ledwich - Meaning and Origin

Ledwich: What does the surname Ledwich mean?

The last name Ledwich is of English origin, thought to have first appeared in the mid-16th century. It is believed to be a habitational name derived from a place known as 'The Lee in Withy', or 'Lee-withy'. This place likely gets its name from the Old English elements 'withig' meaning 'willow tree', and 'leah' meaning 'clearing in the wood'. This suggests that the original bearer of the name had associations with a willow-filled clearing.

The surname could also be derived from a similar-sounding location, such as 'Ledwitch' in Suffolk, or 'Lydewick' in Kent. People with the surname Ledwich could have likely originated from, or had some familial ties to, one of these places.

Ledwich is a fairly rare surname, in the UK especially so. It does not appear much in modern records, and more so in records from the 16th century onwards. It is most frequent in northern parts of England such as Liverpool and Northumberland. There are also some descendants of the original Ledwich family in America, with pockets of the surname popping up in New York, Maine and Massachusetts mainly.

Beyond this, however, not much more is known about this surname and its origins. The riddle of the Ledwich family tree remains a mystery, but the clues left behind hint at a lineage connected to the woodlands of England.

Ledwich: Where does the name Ledwich come from?

The last name Ledwich is commonly found throughout the British Isles. The geographical distribution of the surname includes a number of countries showing an increased presence in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. In England, the notably high concentrations of the Ledwich surname are in the counties of Lancashire, Staffordshire, and Gloucestershire.

In Scotland, the Ledwich surname appears on the roll of the Isle of Bute and on the northwest coast of Scotland centered around the county of Ayr. In Ireland, counties such as Wexford and Cork have seen an increase in the occurrence of the last name Ledwich. It can also be found across the border in Wales.

The last name Ledwich also has a presence extending out of the British Isles. In the United States, the Ledwich surname can be found mainly in the mid-Atlantic states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. More recently, the family name has spread to the Midwest as well in the states of Illinois and Ohio. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also have families with the last name Ledwich.

The origin of the surname is still up for debate, with some believing it to be of Old English or Anglo-Saxon origin while others suggest it is from a European origin such as German or Dutch. No matter the origin, the surname is still found today, mainly in the British Isles, and is continuing to disperse as families emigrate and move to other countries.

Variations of the surname Ledwich

The surname Ledwich is derived from the Olde English phrase “Leedwic” which means “clearing in marshland”. It is a topographic name for someone who lived in such a place. There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of this name, all with slightly different spellings, soundings, and meanings.

The most frequently used variant forms are Lewedwich, Lewendich, Lewidget, and Ludwich. Thedwich, Thewdich, Thewidge, and Weddick are related but rarer variants. The surname Leedwich and Leddwich are also commonly used.

The surnames Ledwith, Ledwidge, Ledwiths, Leadbatch, Leadback, Leadbitter, Leadbitterown, Leadbreather, Leadfoot, Leadford, Leadhead, Leadmill, Leadmiller, Leadstone and Leady also originate from the surname Ledwich.

The surnames Leddich, Ledditt, Leddon, Leddy, Leadbitter, Leadbless, Leadcase, Leadfooter, Leadlooser, Leadsawyer, Leadstriker, Leadstoner, Leadwatter, Leadworts, Leadworth, and Leadwork also might have developed from the surname Ledwich.

The surname Ledwich can also be found in several variations such as Leadweaver, Ledwicker, Leweatcher, Lewedue, Leweduell, Lewes, Limewright, Ledgersmith, Ledgham, Ledgerman, Leddurch, and Leddersmith.

In England, families bearing this surname are found in counties such as Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Sussex, and Warwickshire. They are also found in the countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Famous people with the name Ledwich

• Steven Ledwich: Canadian actor and professor
• Suzanna Ledwich: British actress
• Abigail Ledwich: Canadian actor
• Toni Ledwich: Australian artist and photographer
• Daniel Ledwich: Canadian actor
• Tyson Ledwich: Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician
• William Ledwich: English composer
• Davie Ledwich: Australian musician, producer, and DJ
• Tim Ledwich: British actor, musician, and composer
• Vicki Ledwich: Australian actress
• Ruth Ledwich: British actress
• James Ledwich: English composer and conductor

Other surnames

LedwidgeLedwig