Lefley Family History

of uncertain origin. Possibly a local pronunciation of Leverage or Leverick (see Loveridge) from the Old English personal name Lēofric. A similar change from /r/ to /l/ is attested in Leverych(es)lond alias Lyuelichelond ‘Lēofric's land’ recorded in Shalford (Essex) in the 15th century.

The personal name probably occurs in Levelly Wood in the same parish where weakly stressed -lich has been reduced to -ly.