This interesting and unusual surname is of either English locational origin from "Livesey", in Lancashire or possibly in a few cases derives from an old English pre 7th Century words "leof", dear, beloved, plus the element "sige", victory. Livesey in Lancashire, recorded has "Liveseye" in the 1227 Feet of Fines and "Livshey" in the 1243 Lancashire Inquests, is composed of the old Norse element "hlif", protection, shelter, plus the old English "e.g.", island, hence "Island with a shelter". The name which is very prominent in Lancashire can also be found as Livesey, Livesley, Livezey, Livezley and Livzey. The Lancashire church registers earliest entries of the name appears on October 27th 1552 when Agnes Levesey was christened at Great Harwood. Ales, daughter of Evan Lyvesey was christened at Brindle, Lancashire on March 22nd 1582. Henry, son of Christopher Leiuesley was christened at Ormskirk, Lancashire on June 30th 1661. Ellen Leivesley, daughter of John and Ann Leivesley was christened at Leigh, Lancashire in 1835. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Levesey, who held Levesey as a manor, which was dated 1549, in Baine's History of Lancashire, during the reign of King Edward V1, known as "the Boy King", 1547 - 1553. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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