This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Love.' That this was a fontal name the dims. Love-cock and Love-kin (which see) amply prove.

Love del Hok, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

1610. Baptised — Love Hewlett: Reg. Burgh, Norfolk.

1631-3. Buried — Love Ballard: Reg. Berwick, Sussex.

1662. Baptised — Love Appletree: Reg. Banbury.

There is no reason to suppose that this name was introduced by the Puritan party. That it was favoured by them there can be no doubt.

(2) Nick. 'the love,' the dear one, or, as suggested by Mr. Lower, some English modification of the French 'le loup,' the wolf.

Alan le Love, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Walter Love, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

A common surname in Kilbarchan Commissariot Record, 1649—1772, and still a common surname in Monkland. There seems little doubt that this surname is derived from Old French love, 'a wolf,' the diminutive of which, lovell, has also given origin to a surname. In England the name appears in Latin documents as Lupus (Wright, Courthand restored), and Walter Lupus was burgess in Dunde, c. 1200 (RAA., I, p. 96). Thomas Lufe appears as witness in Glasgow, 1472 (Sc. Ant., XVII, p. 119), and Yhone Luyif was a tenant in the barony of Glasgow, 1521 (Rental). William Lufe and Ranald Lufe were rebels at the horn in 1534 (Trials, I, p. 166), and John Lufe rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the bailies of the burgh of Renfrew in 1567 (ER., XIX, p. 369). John Luiff, skinner, was burgess freeman of Glasgow, 1595, and another John Luif, skinner, was admitted burgess freeman as eldest son of a burgess in 1607 (Burgesses). James Love was heir of Robert Love, portioner of Threipwoode, his father, in 1649 (Retours, Ayr, 439), and James Love took the Test in Paisley, 1686 (RPC., 3. ser. IX, p. 496). Loove 1658, Loue 1652, Lowe 1657, Luife 1560, Luive c. 1613, Lwyf c. 1541. The name is also used as a translation of the popular etymology of the name Mackinnon (wrongly supposed to be from Maclonmhuinn). Lovestone near Girvan derived its name from one of this name.

(English) 1 a pers. and pet name [Middle English love, luf(e, Old English lufu, from, love] Lufu was an A.-Saxon fem. name.

2 for the Anglo-Saxon masc. name Leóf(a [from Old English leóf, dear, beloved] (Anglo-French-Latin) Wolf (prop., a she-wolf) [Anglo-French love, French louve, fem. of loup, Latin lup-us, a wolf] Robert le Love.—Hundred Rolls

Woulfe gives Mac Ionmhain for this and does not mention that it is a well known English name which came to Ireland in the seventeenth century. Mac Ionmhain is a modern attempt at translation into Irish.

Love is a numerous name in Co. Derry

(English) Descendant of Love or Lufa, an Early English given name.

This name relates not to the tender passion, but is an old modification of the French Loup, wolf. In the same way Lupellus, the diminutive, became Loupel and Lovel. One family of this name bear wolves in their arms. Le Love. H.R.

(Danish.) A lion.

Same as Le Love of the H.R. and the French name Le Loup, "the wolf." Hence, as a diminutive, Lovekin.

A form of Le Lou, or Lupus (Lower). See Loup.

From the Flemish, Loef; a personal name.

Love is an ancient Kentish surname. Reginald Love held property around Chatham and Rochester in the reign of Henry V.; and in the time of Henry VIII., Giles Love was a gentleman of Dover; John Love was rector of Woodchurch in 1685 (H.). The Loves have long been an old Staplehurst family of gentry; a hundred years since there were several inscriptions to this family, some of them obliterated, in the church and churchyard (H.).