legh

Legh is primarily found as a surname of English origin and, less commonly, as a historical place-name element. In onomastic terms, Legh is often treated as an older or variant spelling of Leigh (or Leigh/Leighe), derived from the Old English leah, meaning a clearing, meadow, or clearing in a woodland. The orthography Legh appears in medieval records, and several English gentry families bore the surname in the Cheshire and Lancashire regions.

Historically, bearers of the Legh name were associated with notable estates and local influence. The Legh family is linked with properties such as Lyme Park in Cheshire and Adlington Hall in Cheshire, where they were established landowners and figures in regional affairs from the medieval period onward. Through centuries of English history, the Legh surname appears in legal documents, genealogies, and local chronicles, reflecting the longevity of the family and its lands.

In modern usage, Legh is chiefly encountered as a surname. It is not commonly used as a given name or as a common noun in contemporary English. When it appears in literature or historical discussions, it typically denotes a person bearing the Legh surname or, less frequently, points to a toponymic origin tied to places once associated with the family or with the broader toponymic tradition of Leigh/Leigh.

See also: Leigh.