Surname Lees - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Roots of the Lees Surname Through iGENEA DNA Test
My iGENEA DNA test journey led me to new discoveries about my surname, Lees. The test lit a path into my British Celtic ancestry, allowed me to connect to distant relatives, and revealed the ancient origins and significance of our family name.
S. Lees
read moreLees: What does the surname Lees mean?
The surname Lees is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "leah," meaning "wood or clearing." It was typically used to refer to individuals who resided near a woodland or a clearing. Over time, the name evolved into several variations such as Lee, Leas, Lease, and Leese. It's important to note the prefix "Le" sometimes indicates that the bearer of the surname is from French descent, however, this is not the case with the surname Lees. The surname dates back to the pre 7th century and has been found in early records in many English counties, especially in Cheshire. Therefore, the surname Lees usually symbolizes the geographical origin of the person holding the name.
Order DNA origin analysisLees: Where does the name Lees come from?
The surname Lees is of English origin and is primarily derived from geographic locations. It evolved from the old English word "leah," which means "wood," "glade," or "clearing," hence it was often given to people who resided near these areas. Alternatively, in some cases, it might have evolved from the personal name "Leah."
Despite its English origin, the distribution of Lees is quite widespread today. While it remains common in the United Kingdom, particularly in regions like Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Lancashire, and West Yorkshire, the surname has also spread to nations with significant British immigration history. Notably, it can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. According to Forebears, a prominent surname database, the highest number of individuals with the last name Lees is found in England, followed by Australia and the United States. It should be noted that in certain regions and ethnic groups, especially in Korea, "Lees" can also be an anglicization of the common surname "Lee" or "Li," further broadening its distribution.
Variations of the surname Lees
The surname Lees has multiple variations, originatively from different parts of the world. While it is common in England, the same surname or its variants can also be found in Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, and even Asia.
Variations of the surname Lees include Leas, Leese, Leese, Lease, Least, Lise, Lies, Leighs, Lighe, Leace, Leece, and Leys. Similar sounding surnames might include Lee, Less, and Lys.
A common English variant of Lees is Lee's or Lee’s, showing the surname originally might have been possessive or descriptive, indicating a location (like The Lee's house) or profession.
Another variant spelling, related to the Irish origin, is O'Liathain, which, when Anglicized, becomes Lyons or Lees.
In Scottish, “Leys” or “Layis” are found in early records indicating a similar surname.
In Dutch, “De Lijs” could represent the same surname.
The Korean name Lee (sometimes romanized as Yi, Ree, or Rhee) might be mistranslated or phonetically spelled as Lees too, though it's not directly connected to the European surname.
Remember, the variants might differ and overlap due to regional phonetics, migrations, translations, and historical changes in language rules.
Famous people with the name Lees
- Chris Lees: American singer-songwriter best known for his 1980’s new wave music
- Jimmy Lee: African American corporate executive and philanthropist, former Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Chase
- Greg Lee: Scottish author and broadcaster
- Harold Lees: English actor who appeared in over 80 films
- Leslie Lees: English psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
- Laura Lees: Australian human rights activist and author 7.Margaret Lees: English author and novelist
- Justin Lees: Australian composer and music educator
- Jim Lees: Scottish psychologist and psychotherapist
- Kenneth Lees: British artist and illustrator
- Mark Lees: British neuroscientist and immunologist
- Anthony Lees: English actor and director
- Ralph Lees: British racing driver and journalist
- Gina Lees: Canadian singer-songwriter
- Stephen Lees: Australian marine biologist and conservationist