Surname Lighthall - Meaning and Origin
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Lighthall: What does the surname Lighthall mean?
The last name Lighthall is of German and Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English word lēahthæll, which can be translated to mean "meadow where leeks grow" or "light spring." The surname is also derived from the German word licht, which means "light" or "brightness." This surname may also be assumed to be derived from the surname Lecht, which has a similar meaning.
The name Lighthall is typically a locational surname, given to people who originally lived in or near a place where leeks grew, or in a place characterized by its bright fields or meadows. It is likely that the family first originated some time around the 12th or 13th centuries in northwestern Germany, near the Dutch border.
In terms of popularity, the surname Lighthall is quite rare, only appearing in the US Census records as a few isolated occurrences. It is also quite uncommon in both England and Germany.
People who bear the surname Lighthall tend to be of German and/or Anglo-Saxon descent, and they certainly have some connection to bright and flowery meadows of Northern Germany. It is likely that the ancestors of people who today bear this surname originally sought out these bright and lively places centuries ago, and their name is still a reminder of their vibrant home.
Order DNA origin analysisLighthall: Where does the name Lighthall come from?
The last name Lighthall is most prevalent in the United States, although it has become increasingly scattered over the decades as its members have migrated. According to the US Social Security Administration, the name was the 2,555th most popular surname in the country at the end of 2017, in comparison to the 1,406th most popular in 2000.
Throughout the United States, there are several states in which the name Lighthall is most concentrated. These include Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Ohio is the state with the highest concentration of Lighthall’s boasting more than 8,000 individuals with the name.
Pennsylvania and Maryland follow Ohio with more than 7,000 and 5,000 respectively. In addition, the name is becoming increasingly popular in Michigan, closely followed by New York, Massachusetts, Indiana and Virginia. It is also becoming increasingly popular in mid-West states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Outside the United States, Lighthall is commonly seen in Canada with more than 2,800 individuals with the name living there, mostly concentrated in Quebec. The last name has also spread to England and Australia, with more than 700 individuals in both countries. In England, the majority of Lighthall’s live in London and the South East.
Variations of the surname Lighthall
The surname Lighthall has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of the surname might include Lightall, Labitall, Leightall, and Laitall. Spellings can include Li-ght-all, Li-ghte-hall, Ly-ght-hall, and La-ight-hall.
Surnames of the same origin could be related to someone from Lightall, a small hamlet south of Macclesfield in Cheshire, England. Lightall was an ancient parish in Cheshire and today is a part of Cheshire East, an administrative unit.
Another origin could be of Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name means ‘people of the light’ or ‘dwellers in the light’ and comes from the Old English words lēoht and halh, meaning ‘light’ and ‘nook’ respectively.
There are other surnames that are of similar origin, such as Lightfoot, Leightley, Lightmaker, Lighthome, Lighter, Lightbown, Litell, Lightdeford, Lighthilder, and Lightham.
The surname Lighthall is typically found across the UK and in the United States. Those with the surname are commonly found in the areas of Nottinghamshire in England, as well as York and Middlesex counties in Pennsylvania and New York in the United States.
Famous people with the name Lighthall
- Thomas Willson Lighthall- a Canadian poet
- William Ashford Lighthall- an English-born Canadian lawyer and folklorist
- Victoria Lighthall- an American photographer
- Matthew Lighthall- an American athlete
- John Lighthall- an American pharmacist and botanist
- Rebecca Lighthall- an American animator
- Gordon Lighthall- a Canadian politician
- Ross Lighthall- a Canadian film director
- Penelope Lighthall- an American painter and photographer
- Nancy Lighthall- an American cinematographer
- William Lighthall- an American lawyer and Director of Public Works for Philadelphia
- Michael Lighthall- an American actor
- Karen Lighthall- an American music executive
- Christopher Lighthall- an American businessman
- John Lighthall Jr.- an American lawyer
- David Lighthall- a BritishRomantic era composer
- Grace Lighthall- an American interior designer and decorator
- Darel A. Lighthall- an American financial planner
- David Cleveland Lighthall- an American industrialist