Leonard Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Leonard last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Leonard last name
Meaning of the Leonard last name: from the personal name Leonard ("lion-hardy"). Leonard comes from the personal name meaning lion-hardy. It is common in England and Ireland. A curious detail: Saint Leonard was a popular medieval saint, patron of prisoners. The name is found as a first name and a surname, and spread widely with emigrants to America.
Arms associated with the Leonard name
In medieval England colours carried meaning, with blue for loyalty and red for courage, and the Leonard name belongs to that tradition.
Get your full Leonard family history
This is only a glimpse of the Leonard story. The full Leonard history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Leonard coat of arms. Get the full Leonard report.
Leonard name FAQ
What does the Leonard name mean?
From the personal name Leonard ("lion-hardy"). Common variants include Lennard, Leonhard, Lenard.
Where does the Leonard surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and Australia.
Is there a Leonard coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Leonard coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.