Surname Leith - Meaning and Origin
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Leith: What does the surname Leith mean?
The surname Leith originated from Scotland and is a locational last name derived from the town named Leith in Edinburgh. The meaning of "Leith" is 'broad river', which is derived from the Gaelic term "lite" or the Celtic term "leithu" - both meaning broad or wide. Over the years and era, the spelling of the name was adapted several times and appeared in different forms like Leithe, Lithe, and more. This surname typically designated someone who lived near or by the broad river or was from the town of Leith. As a common norm of the era, people who shifted to a new town or city often used their place of origin, a prominent landmark, or geographical feature as their surname. So the same norm applies to the surname Leith too.
Order DNA origin analysisLeith: Where does the name Leith come from?
The surname Leith is of Scottish origin, derived from a place-name in Edinburgh, the port district of Leith. It is believed to have Gaelic roots, meaning "broad river." Like other surnames, Leith was first used in the Middle Ages by people in the Scottish region of the port of Leith.
As migration increased, the surname spread through the United Kingdom and then further afield to different parts of the world due to trade, exploration, warfare, and political alliances. Nowadays, the surname Leith is common not only in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, but also in countries where there has been significant British influence or immigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Despite its diffusion worldwide, the surname Leith remains most common in Scotland due to its historical and geographical origins there. It serves as a link for many to their Scottish ancestry.
Variations of the surname Leith
The surname Leith is primarily of Scottish origin but can also be found in certain areas of England. The name is considered topographic, denoting families originating from an area near broad rivers or wetlands - "leith" means "broad" in Gaelic.
Partial to regional variations and phonetic spellings over centuries, there is a range of spellings and variants for the surname Leith. Some of the more common include: Leath, Leathe, Leigh, Leit, and Leth. In some cases, it possesses prefixes such as "Mac" or "Mc," indicating "son of" in Gaelic, resulting in variants like MacLeith or McLeith.
As with many surnames, Leith can also be combined with other words or names to constitute different surnames. For instance, Leith-Smith or Leith-Jones.
Please note that the connection between these variants and the original surname may vary between families, as names often change significantly due to various historical and personal reasons. Each of these spellings can represent different families and lines of descent. Therefore, tracing a specific family line may require more advanced genealogical research methods.
Famous people with the name Leith
- Eilidh Leith: Scottish professional footballer
- Julia Leith: English singer and songwriter
- Gordon Leith: Canadian politician
- Jodie Leith: Australian swimmer
- Ben Leith: Scottish professional rugby player
- Amanda Leith: British sprint athlete
- Mike Leith: New Zealand rugby union player
- Brain Leith: English footballer
- Robert Leith: Scottish footballer
- Phil Leith: Canadian professional hockey player
- Kerrie Leith: Canadian professional tennis player
- Clive Leith: British professional squash player
- Dave Leith: Scottish badminton player
- Stephen Leith: Scottish track and field athlete
- Matt Leith: Canadian professional figure skater
- Roderick Leith: Scottish artist
- Eric Leith: American biologist
- Robert Leith: American civil engineer
- Bob Leith: American jazz musician
- Miles Leith: English actor