This interesting surname is a variant of Lennie, which is of Scottish origin, and is locational from a place called Leny in the parish of Callander in the former county of Perthshire. The placename is derived from the Gaelic "leana", bog, marsh, and the local suffix "-ach". Locational surname were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The surname development since 1267 (see below) includes the following: John de Leny (circa 1270, Drumchastell); John de Lanyn (1296, Perth); John de Lany (1304, Perth); and John Lanie (1613, Monbrachie). The modern surname can be found as Lennie, Leney, Len(n)y and Lenney. Among the recordings in Scotland are the christening of John, son of James Leney and Mary McLaren, on December 25th 1766, at Callander, Perth, and the marriage of George Leney and Grisel Sim on February 11th 1775, at Tibbermore, Perth. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Lena, which was dated 1267, witness in the "Episcopal Register of Glasgow", Scotland, during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249 - 1286. 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.