Lea (surname)
Encyclopedia
Lea is a surname. It may refer to:
Lea is an English surname, originating from Old English (Lēah) prior to the Norman Conquest of England in the year 1066. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, an infusion of Norman, French, and Latin entered into the lexicon of England, resulting in the development of multiple spelling variants of the surname into a variety of phonetic alternatives. Examples of these variations include the more frequently seen version of the surname, "Lee", this version of the surname is the most popular and is appealing as it is easier for others to pronounce properly. Whereas the "a" is silent in Lea, it is often mistakenly pronounced with an "ah" sound at the end of the name, leading to a degree of annoyance among holders of the surname. Some lesser occurring but still notable versions of the surname Lea include: Lei, Ley, and Leigh.
The surname Lea means, meadow, pasture, field, or an open clearing of space in a wooded area. There are parallel names in other Germanic languages such as "Loo" in Dutch or "Lōh" in Old High German with identical meanings.
Lea is still a surviving surname in areas of southern England. Lea has also existed in North America since 1608 with the arrival of the English immigrant William Lea (son of Nicholas Lea, Waterford County, Ireland [Englishman not Irish]) to King and Queen Co., Virginia Colony. Leas were among some of the very first immigrants to come to North America from England in the 17th century, and historically hailed from the southern United States in places such as Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Leas in the 19th century spread into the upper midwest as well, and by the mid-20th century had reached as far west as southern California.
Today, Lea is a very small percentage of the English surnames in the United States, with most American Leas able to trace back their ancestry to William Lea or one of his two brothers who came with him to Virginia in 1608.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lea
Lea is an English surname, originating from Old English (Lēah) prior to the Norman Conquest of England in the year 1066. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, an infusion of Norman, French, and Latin entered into the lexicon of England, resulting in the development of multiple spelling variants of the surname into a variety of phonetic alternatives. Examples of these variations include the more frequently seen version of the surname, "Lee", this version of the surname is the most popular and is appealing as it is easier for others to pronounce properly. Whereas the "a" is silent in Lea, it is often mistakenly pronounced with an "ah" sound at the end of the name, leading to a degree of annoyance among holders of the surname. Some lesser occurring but still notable versions of the surname Lea include: Lei, Ley, and Leigh.
The surname Lea means, meadow, pasture, field, or an open clearing of space in a wooded area. There are parallel names in other Germanic languages such as "Loo" in Dutch or "Lōh" in Old High German with identical meanings.
Lea is still a surviving surname in areas of southern England. Lea has also existed in North America since 1608 with the arrival of the English immigrant William Lea (son of Nicholas Lea, Waterford County, Ireland [Englishman not Irish]) to King and Queen Co., Virginia Colony. Leas were among some of the very first immigrants to come to North America from England in the 17th century, and historically hailed from the southern United States in places such as Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Leas in the 19th century spread into the upper midwest as well, and by the mid-20th century had reached as far west as southern California.
Today, Lea is a very small percentage of the English surnames in the United States, with most American Leas able to trace back their ancestry to William Lea or one of his two brothers who came with him to Virginia in 1608.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lea
In music
- Brandin Lea, the lead singer of Texas-based band Flickerstick and side project The February Chorus
- Jim LeaJim LeaJim Lea , is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade.-Career:...
, songwriter
In military
- Edward LeaEdward LeaEdward Lea , was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Galveston and died in the arms of his father, who was on the opposing side in the conflict....
, officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War - Homer LeaHomer LeaHomer Lea , was an American adventurer and author. He is today best known for his involvement with Chinese reform and revolutionary movements in the early twentieth century as close advisor to Dr. Sun Yat-sen during the 1911 Chinese Republican revolution that overthrew the Manchu Dynasty...
, general in the army of Sun Yat-sen and a writer of several books of geopolitics; cousin to Thomas C. Lea - Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr.Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr.Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr. , was a prominent American attorney from El Paso, Texas, and mayor of that city from 1915 to 1917.-Biography:Lea was born in Independence, Missouri, to Thomas Calloway and Amanda Rose Lea....
, was a prominent American attorney from El Paso, Texas, and mayor of that city from 1915 to 1917; cousin to Homer Lea
In politics
- Chris LeaChris LeaChris Lea is a designer, politician and political activist in Canada. He was the leader of the Green Party of Canada from 1990 to 1996. He is, to date, the party's longest-serving leader. Lea is notable for being the first openly gay political party leader in Canadian history.Lea lives in Toronto...
, the first openly gay political party leader in Canadian history - Luke Lea (1783–1851)Luke Lea (1783–1851)Luke Lea was a two-term United States Representative from Tennessee.Lea was born in Surry County, North Carolina and moved with his parents in 1790 into what would become Hawkins County, Tennessee. As a young man he was a clerk for the Tennessee House of Representatives...
, two-term United States Representative from Tennessee - Luke Lea (1879–1945)Luke Lea (1879–1945)Luke Lea was a Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee from 1911 to 1917.-Biography:Lea was the great-grandson of an earlier Luke Lea who was a two-term Congressman from Tennessee in the 1830s...
, Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee (1911–1917) - Pryor LeaPryor LeaPryor Lea was a two-term U.S. Representative from Tennessee.Lea was born in Knox County, Tennessee. He studied at the former Greeneville College and then studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1817 and practicing in Knoxville. He had previously served in the Creek War of 1813...
, two-term U.S. Representative from Tennessee - Preston LeaPreston LeaPreston Lea was an American businessman and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Republican Party who served as Governor of Delaware.-Early life and family:...
(1841–1916), American businessman and politician, Governor of Delaware - Rebecca Lea (1900–1952) A pioneer for female suffrage in New Zealand
- Sir Thomas Lea Liberal MP for Kidderminster (1868–1874)
- Walter Maxfield LeaWalter Maxfield LeaWalter Maxfield Lea was a Prince Edward Island politician.A farmer and livestock breeder by profession, Lea was born in Tryon, the son of William C. Lea and Annie Murphy. He was elected to the provincial House of Assembly in 1915 as a Liberal and became commissioner of agriculture in 1919...
, Prince Edward Island politician
In sports
- Arthur LeaArthur LeaArthur Lea was a Welsh footballer who played as an inside forward for Wrexham in the 1880s and 1890s. Despite having only one arm, he also made four appearances for the Wales national side.-Football career:...
(1866–1945), Welsh international footballer - Charlie LeaCharlie LeaCharles William Lea was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From through , Lea played for the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins...
, former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball - Cyril LeaCyril LeaCyril Lea is a Welsh former footballer. He was born in Wrexham, and was capped on two occasions by Wales.He played for Leyton Orient and Ipswich Town, and was responsible for team selection at Portman Road for two months between the departure of Bill McGarry and the arrival of Bobby Robson.Lea...
, Welsh footballer - Leslie LeaLeslie LeaLeslie Lea is an English former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder.Lea began his professional career with Blackpool in 1960, making his debut in the opening game of the 1960–61 league campaign. He scored his first goal for the club in their fourth league game, a 3–1 defeat at...
, English footballer
In other fields
- Arthur Mills LeaArthur Mills LeaArthur Mills Lea was an Australian entomologist.Lea was born in Surry Hills, New South Wales, the second son of Thomas Lea, from Bristol, England, and his wife Cornelia, née Dumbrell, of Sydney....
, Australian entomologist - Doug LeaDoug LeaDoug Lea is a professor of computer science at State University of New York at Oswego where he specializes in concurrent programming and the design of concurrent data structures. He was on the Executive Committee of the Java Community Process and chaired JSR 166, which added concurrency utilities...
, professor of Computer Science at State University of New York at Oswego where he specializes in concurrent programming - Henry Charles LeaHenry Charles LeaHenry Charles Lea was an American historian, civic reformer, and political activist. Lea was born and lived in Philadelphia.-Parents:...
, American historian in Philadelphia - Isaac LeaIsaac LeaIsaac Lea was an American conchologist, geologist, and businessman, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware.-Life:...
, American conchologist, geologist, and business man - Margaret Moffette LeaMargaret Moffette LeaMargaret Moffette Lea was the daughter of Alabama planters Temple Lea and Nancy Moffette. In 1840 she became the third wife of the politician Sam Houston, then representative to the Texas legislature and between terms as the President of the Republic of Texas...
, the daughter of Temple Lea and Nancy Moffett, and wife of Samuel Houston - Nicholas LeaNicholas LeaNicholas Lea is a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Alex Krycek on The X-Files and on Kyle XY playing Tom Foss.-Biography:...
, actor - Thomas C. Lea, IIIThomas C. Lea, IIIThomas Calloway "Tom" Lea, III was a noted American muralist, illustrator, artist, war correspondent, novelist, and historian....
(Tom Lea), American muralist, illustrator, artist, war correspondent, novelist, and historian
See also
- Lea (disambiguation)
- LeahLeahLeah , as described in the Hebrew Bible, is the first of the two concurrent wives of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob and mother of six of sons whose descendants became the Twelve Tribes of Israel, along with at least one daughter, Dinah. She is the daughter of Laban and the older sister of Rachel, whom...
- Lee (disambiguation)
- Leigh (disambiguation)