This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the leigh' or 'legh' (v. Lee); compare Whitelegge and Whiteley.

John de Leg, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Pagan de la Leg, Wiltshire, 9, Henry III— Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Avice de Leg, Salop, ibid.

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Legg,' a personal name of the history of which I know nothing. Perhaps a nick, of Legard, which see.

Andrew fil. Legge, Cambridgeshire 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Nicholas Legge, Hampshire, ibid.

Roger Legge, Somerset, ibid.

John Legge, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

William Legge, Huntingdonshire, 1581: Register of the University of Oxford.

1630. Baptised — Robert, s. John Legge: Reg. Stourton (Wiltshire).

1770. Married — William Legg and Ann Cawdron: St. George, Hanover Square.

The earliest reference to this Surname in old records of Banffshire is c. 1588, when William Leg in Newmyll gave his son his portione naturall." in 1648 Patrick Leg "was indyttit and accusit haldin and reput as ane commoun theiff and ane notorious theiff without fang and in fang," etc. (SN&Q., I, p. 45—46). Margaret Leg in Stracathrow, 1627 (Brechin). Gilbert Leg, weaver in Invereichnie, 1702 (Banff Rec., p. 237), and Walter Leg was member of the Gartly Company of Volunteers, 1798 (Will, p. 23). James Legge (1815—1897), one of the most distinguished Sinologists, was born at Huntly, Aberdeenshire. The name has been derived from Old West Norse Leggr (Jonsson, Aarboger for nordisk Oldkyndighed, 1907, p. 221), but in Scotland is more likely to be of local origin, from ledge, dative case of Old English lech, 'at the lea.' Matheu de Leghe of Dumfriesshire rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 198). Lyg 1598.

(Scandinavian) the O.Scand. pers. name Legg-r; also a nickname and sign- name [Middle English leg, legge, Old Norse legg-r, a leg, also a spear-shaft] The hosiers will dine at the Legge, The drapers at the signe of the Brush.—‘Londons Ordinarie’: Roxb. Ballads.

(English) Dweller at the Lea [Dialectal English leg, a meadow; from the dat. case, leáge, of Old English leáh, from, a lea, meadow; leá being the dat. case of leáh, m.] John de Leg.—Hundred Rolls

(English, Norwegian) Dweller in, or near, the meadow; one who had unusual legs; descendant of Leggr (leg).

1. See under lee. 2. An ancient trader's sign.

From Anglo-Saxon leag, legh, leah, lega, a ley, field, place. Hence the surname Lay and the compounds Belovly, Bedlock, Blacklock, Bully, Burley, Cleverly, Comely, Daily, Duly, Early, Fatherly, Freely, Foully, Friendly, Gaily, Golightly, Gravelly, Hoodless (leas), Hopeless (leas), Keylock, Knoblock, Lightly, Likely, Lively, Looseley, Loosley, Lovelock, Loveluck, Lovely, Manly, Marlock, Mealy, Mealey, Motley, Onely, Only, Parsley, Purely, Quickly, Ragless (leas), Reckless (leas), Scratchley Shamely, Sharpley, Shiplake, Silverlock, Skinley, Softly, Sorely, Timberlake, Truly, Ugly, Weakley, Wedlake, Wedlock, Weekley, Weekly, Whitlegg, Whitelock (Anglo-Saxon hwít, white).

The name of Legg was represented in Stonrminster last century; and a gentleman named Henry Bilson Legge owned property at the same time in Chilfrome (H.).