This surname is derived from a nickname. for one of light weight, nimble and agile.

William Leichtbody in Dalemok, 1552 (Protocols, I). Johne Lychtbodie, reidare at Lanell, 1574 (RMR.). Margaret Lychtbodie retoured heir 'in tenemento in burgo de Lawder,' 1602 (Retours, Berwick, 31). Marion Lichtbodie in Mudisburne, parish of Monkland, 1620 (Campsie), and William Lytbodie was admitted burgess and guild brother in Glasgow, 1621 (Burgesses). John Lightbody in Torphichen, 1678 (Torphichen) Marion Lightbody in Dumfries, 1689 (RPC., 3. ser XIV, p. 694), and James Lightbody in Meadowland, 1709 (Minutes, p. 57). Six of the name are recorded in the Torphichen Commissariot Record. Lechtbodye and Leichtbodye 1552, Lychtbody 1688.

= Light (q.v.) + English body, Middle English bodi, Old English bodig.

(English) A light, active person.

Boda, (latinized Bodus,) occurs in Domesd. as a previous tenant, and therefore probably a Saxon. Now boda is Anglo-Saxon, and bodi O.-Norse, for a messenger, and, in a subordinate sense, a preacher. It follows, therefore, that Truebody is equivalent to 'faithful messenger,' Light-body to 'active messenger,' and Freebody to ' ambassador of peace.' (A-Sax. frith, peace.) Again Handsomebody (the original meaning of handsome being handy, active) is a 'useful messenger,' while Goodbody, originally written Godebodi, may be no other than God's messenger-a preacher of the Gospel. The Gr. aγγελσς is used in the double sense of messenger and preacher in Mark, i. 2. See Ferguson for further conjectures.

From bod-wy, the dwelling by the water. This name however may sometimes be the same with the Anglo-Saxon Boda; from boda, Old Norse bodi, a messenger. Qy. the names Boddy, Boddey.

A writer, somewhere, derives this name from Licht, a dead body, a tomb, and Bodee, contracted from Boadicea,—meaning the tomb or grave of this British Queen; a locality. The name, however, is more likely to have originated from bodily peculiarity.

The same as Bodda, Boda (Latinised Bodus), probably from Anglo-Saxon boda, Old Norse bodi, a messenger. See also Bodkin.

Body has been a west of England name for six centuries or more. In the 13th century it was represented in Devonshire by William Body of Aspton (H. R.), and now it is still established in the neighbouring counties of Cornwall and Somerset. Amongst the martyrs of the Monmouth rebellion none behaved more courageously on the scaffold than Henry Body, a native of Lyme Regis, Dorset, who had fought as a seaman in the naval battles of the time of Charles II. (W.). In Cornwall the name has long been known. Last century there was a Mr. Michael Body at St. Agnes: Body was the name of the commissioner for the destruction of images in the Cornish churches who was murdered, whilst thus employed, at Helston, in 1549 (Polwhele's "Cornwall.").