Leckenby

This interesting name is of English locational origin from "Lackenby", a place in Yorkshire recorded "Lache(ne)be" in the Domesday Book of 1086, "Lackenbi" in the Feet of Fines, 1202, and "Lackeneby" in the Feet of Fines, 1234. The first element in the placename may be the Old Irish personal name "Lochan", but is more likely to be the Old Norse nickname "Hlakkandi", from "hlakka", to cry, short or the Old Danish "Lakkande" from "Lakke", to walk slowly, hence "The shouting one or the slow-moving one". The second element is the old English "-by", from the Old Norse "byr", "boer", which means village, homestead and is common as an element in parts of England where Scandinavians settled. Samson Lackenby married Anes Harland ag Gilling near Helmsley, Yorkshire on May 13th 1585, while at Thirsk, Yorkshire, Franncis, son of Thomes Leckenby was christened on May 29th 1592. Jane, daughter of Sampson Lakkenby was christened on December 5th 1598, at Gilling near Helmsley. One Hanne Lagenbey was christened at St. Giles Cripplegate, London on September 26th 1655. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes Lekenby, which was dated June 26th 1577, Church Records of Licke, Yorkshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.