Origin of Lightbody


This is an Anglo-Scottish medieval surname. There are two possible origins and over the centuries the two have often become fused in spelling. Originally if English it is or rather was, probably a nickname, one which on the face of it, described a small person, one who was 'lyt,' meaning little. However given the robust humour of those Chaucerian times anything is possible, and our inclination is to suggest that like the famous outlaw Little John or John Little, this surname referred to a particularly large person! However unless one was present when the name was first 'given', it is almost impossible after some six hundred years and more, to say for certain what was actually meant.

The first recording adds some spice to the equation as it was female. This was Katherine Littelbod in the Subsidy Tax rolls of Cambridge in 1327. The second possible origin is Scottish. Here the origin was slightly different in that the name is believed to mean one who was light or frivolous from the pre 7th century Olde English word 'leoht'. The early recordings include William Leichtbody of Dalernok in 1552, and John Lightbody of Torphichen in 1621.

  1. United States United States
  2. Scotland Scotland
  3. England England
  4. Australia Australia
  5. Canada Canada
  6. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland
  7. South Africa South Africa
  8. Jamaica Jamaica
  9. Wales Wales
  10. New Zealand New Zealand
  11. Isle of Man Isle of Man
  12. Denmark Denmark

The surname Lightbody. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The surname Lightbody around the world

History of Lightbody

Notable Figures Named Lightbody

The surname Lightbody and its bibliographic sources

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of lightbody, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

  1. Lightbown
  2. Lightborne
  3. Lightbourn
  4. Lightburn
  5. Lightfoot
  6. Lightford
  7. Lightbowne
  8. Lichtblau
  9. Lightbourne
  10. Lightbounre
  11. Lichtfuss
  12. Lightfield
  13. Lightfritz
  14. Laghdaf
  15. Leichtfuss
  16. Lustbader
  17. Lustberg
  18. Ligetfalvi
  19. Listopad
  20. Leghdaf
  21. Laghdhaf
  22. Leghdhaf
  23. Lusthof
  24. Lagtaibi
  25. Lochtefeld
  26. Luchtefeld
  27. Lestapi
  28. Lustofin
  29. Ljatifi
  30. Loskutov
  31. Lastapis
  32. Loktev
  33. Lastovka
  34. Lastovica
  35. Luechtefeld
  36. Luzdivina
  37. Ljatifovski
  38. Losada feijoo
  39. Lightbourne williams