Leftwich

Recorded in many forms including Leverage, Leverich, Levick, Lefridge, Leftridge, Lefwich, Leftwich, Liverock, Loveredge and even Leftbridge, this is an ancient English surname. Although it may seem to be locational from some place meaning the "lower ridge" or similar, it is in fact an Olde English pre 7th century personal name! It derives from the given name "Leofric", composed of the elements "leof", meaning dear or beloved, with "ric", power. This name was very popular in England in pre Norman times. Although most Anglo-Saxon names became "politically incorrect" after the Invasion, this one retained its popularity well into the growth of the surname period in the 13th century. Early examples of the surname developments include Willemus Lefrich in the Curia Regis Rolls for the city of Leicester in the year 1196, Walter Lufrich in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire in 1206, and Robert Leffrich in Essex in 1240. William Loverich appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxford in 1279, whilst Bernard Loveridge, aged 22, whose occupation was listed as "sope boyler", was one of the rebels in Monmouth's Rebellion of 1685. He was transported to the Barbadoes in December of that year, although his later fate is not known. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Leuric. This was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book for Oxford, during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.