Leith Family Tree research resources
Explore the detail of the Leith Family History using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 1551 people with the Leith surname? In that year Leith was ranked number 2129 for popularity in the UK. |
"Local: from the town of Leith in Edinburghshire. The family are descended from William Leith, temp. David Bruce. "(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)
Leith records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Leith family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Leith family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Leith family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Leith family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Leith family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Leith family. |
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Historical References
"LEITH. From the town or territory of Leith, Midlothian. There are three fables in circulation, says Stodart, as to the history of the Leiths. (1) That they held the barony of Restalrig, and that that property was carried by an heiress to an ancestor of the Logans of Restalrig. (2) Restalrig gave a surname to its early owners, and it is not till the fifteenth century that Leiths are to be found holding some lands there; they were burgesses of Edinburgh and gave their name to Leith Wynd. (3) The founder of the family of Leith of Harthill in the parish of Oyne, was William de Lethe, burgess of Aberdeen, which he represented in parliament, 1367 (Stodart, n). William Leythe, burgess of Aberdeen, 1342 (St. Nicholas Chartulary, p. 12), is mentioned again in 1363 as William de Leth (REA., n, p. 283). Laurence de Leth was alderman of Aberdeen, 1388 (CAB., p. 380). Gilbert of Leth was custumar of Edinburgh, 1327, and John de Lethe was provost of Linlithgow, 1330 (ER., i, p. 81, 273). Thomas of Leth appears as witness in Kirkwaw (Kirkwall), 1391 (Dipl. Norv., n, p. 402). Robert de Leitht was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1406 (NSCM., i, p. 2), and John of Lethe had safe conduct in England for one month, 1420 (Bain, rv, 899). Leithe 1641, Leyth 1601, Leytht 1584. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Leith ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Leith Tree?
Visit our Leith DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Leith Family Tree
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Leith Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Leith family tree.
Search Leith Parish Records at Find My Past.
Investigate the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Leith family name using the FreeBMD database.
Investigate Genealogy Bank for Leith family records.
Investigate MyHeritage for Leith family data.
Check out the LDS Database for records of the Leith family.
Research the Leith surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Leith Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 1648 people with the Leith surname in the UK? Leith is now ranked number 2581 for popularity in the UK. |
Leith Genealogy Databases
Study WikiTree for user contributed Leith family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Leith data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Explore MyTrees for information on the Leith family and people looking to contact living Leith relations.
Investigate GENi for Leith family records.
Find your Irish Leith relatives on findmypast.ie
Leith Forums
Research the Leith surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 3038 people with the Leith surname in the USA? Leith is ranked number 156 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Leith Databases
Study the Ellis Island Database for information on the Leith family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Leith surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Ask a Question
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