Thanks for stopping by…
Nov 3rd, 2008 | By Leonard Legends & Legacies | Category: Welcome to the Family!And welcome, again, my friends… to the show that never ends… and the newly re-designed Leonard Family History Web site. If you’re new here, feel free to poke around. If you’re an old friend, uh, feel free to poke around….
If you look really, really closely, you’ll notice that I’m simply re-writing the post I used to introduce this site more than a year-and-a-half ago. Ahem.
It (the site, that is) features a Leonard family database (still in the old template), a spiffy new design, and… ta-da… this wonderful new blog. If you could bear with me for just a few days, I’ll get everything upgraded, standardized, and working the way it was designed.
Now, you may ask, “What’s a blog?” Blog is short for Web log and it’s simply a Web page where you and I can share family history directly. Sorta like email, except everybody can read it. (Post a Comment on this post, where everyone can read it… or Drop Us a Line for actual email, that comes only to me.)
This is where I’ll post an occasional thought, discovery, or question… and you can let me know what you think. You’ll also find Comments links at the bottom of most Featured Articles… you can add your thoughts to those posts as well.
Here’s how it works… Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Comment(s)” link… The blog will ask you for a name (what you’d like us to call you) and a valid email address (which no one but me will see). Once that’s done, you can forget it ever asked. Go ahead, give it a try!
Now, on to the Leonard Family Legends & Legacies… These are a few of the details I’ve collected over the years… about my particular branch of the Leonard family tree. We date back to the Mayflower, moved on to southwestern Pennsylvania for several generations, then off to Ohio and on to virtually every state in the union from there.
All the info is available from the left-hand column, if you’re anxious to dive into the deep end of the pool… or you can stick around the shallow end (right here) to read the featured articles in the right-hand column. Either way, all I ask is credit where credit is due, as I have tried to do when sharing information so freely given to me.
And if you get lost… you can always find your way back to this lovely spot by clicking Home in the left column or the logo in the upper left corner of any page.
I hope you find something of interest at Legends & Legacies, and I hope you’ll let me know if you do.
Sincerely,
Rick Leonard
Here’s an example of a reader’s comment. Just click the “Comment(s)” link, register once and you’re on your way!
Rick;
The web site looks good. I particularly like the “ten most wanted” section. I will have to think about what my “ten mosted wanted” genealogy items would be!
Robin
Hi Rick,
I am looking for Leonard ancestors who lived in South Carolina and Alabama. Do you have any information on that line of Leonards? Names I have are Josiah b. 1837 Alabama, David b. 1813 South Carolina, William b. 1785 South Carolina, and David b. 1765 South Carolina. Josiah was my gggrandfather. He relocated to Hunt County Texas in the mid 1800.
Any help would be appreciated.
Sandra, which line did your descendents come from? John, James or William! Contact me!
Hi Robin… I actually have MORE than ten Most Wanted, but that would get tedious, wouldn’t it?
Sandra… I don’t have any direct knowledge of the SC and Ala Leonards, but my impression (and I could be wrong) is that they probably descend from the Iron Leonards branch. My line tended to migrate straight west.
Have not found any links to the Iron Leonards. Not saying there is no link, just that research so far has not established a link.
hi,
am looking for people with Leonard by name. Am from Poland and i dont know my grgrandparents from fathers site, I only know my grandfather was Grzegorz (Gregor, Grigorij) Leonard and hes married Irena Ociepska. i want to know everything about my ancestors. And where they come from to Poland.
Thx a lot, Marta Leonard
This website is a very good site.keep up the good work.
I am a direct des. of the one of the first leonard’s that migarated to south carolina. Jonas leonard, who was a methodist preacher at the end of the 18th and beginiing of the 19th century. As far as I know he was the first leonard to arrive in South Carolina. I was told through family elders that we migrated from VA.
Could someone assist me with finding out what part of Ireland the Leonards came from? I am trying to tie my branch in with the rest of the leonard clan. I am working on gathering all the names of the leonards that have lived and died in S.C. since the late 1700′s, it is a very long list. I will post birthdays and deaths to assist in research. Does anyone know the names of the leonards that migrated from VA. to S.C.?
Brian can you furnish me with a little more information on your Leonard’s who migrated from VA and SC. This iw where my ancestors migrated from and went on to AL.
Brian,
I’m not sure if this site is still active or if you ever got an answer so here goes: I studied our surname in the genealogical research section of the Irish National Library in Dublin. They have a map of family name locations that is from just after the Anglo-Norman invasion up to the Jacobite/Williamite upheaval in the late 17th century. The information available seems to indicate the name “Leonard” is Anglo-Norman in origin from Leo (Lion) and Hard (brave or hardy) and has been gaelicized to O’Linnane and is very common during this time in northern County Mayo. The parishes most commonly associated with the name are: Ardagh, Cooneal, and Kilmoremoy (CO Sligo) but no records predate 1823. Additionally, it is found in CO Fermanagh, CO Galway, and the Ulster province. See normayo.iol.ie and mayo.irish-roots.net.
Secondly, other sources say Leonard (also Lennon) is the anglicized form of O’Leannain from leannan (lover)-sometimes as linnane (there that is again and could be used a start point), occassionally it is used as English version of O’Lonan, O’Lonagain in west Co Cork and as O’Luinigh originally from CO Donegal. These are now strongly associated with CO Mayo, CO Galway, and CO Fermanagh. The most prominent family were in CO Fermanagh and held land and ecclesiatical titles in the parish of Inishmacsaint. The name is present today in the Ulster province and in the eastern part of Leinster province. On another note, I lke to have a pint in Leonard’s Corner Pub at the corner of Clanbrassill Road (Dolphin Way) and the South Circular Road (Portobello) in Dublin. The whole area is known as Leonard’s Corner. I haven’t met anyone who knows why. Happy hunting.
Looking for Leonards who settled around Fayette, Benton and Allen County, Indiana and Battle Creek, Ida, Iowa. Oliver Leonard married Sarah J. Darby (1855)they had Byron -my line Benton & Fayette, Charley – Benton & Allen, Alfred Benton & Ida county, John and Ernest Benton county. Believed Oliver to be the s/o Isaac Leonard and Christina Messersmith but the death certificate in Benton Co. states that Oliver’s father is William Leonard.
I am looking for Leonards who reside in or around Jackson , Grove Hill , Alabama . My Grandfather , John Ernest Leonard came from there in late 1800s early 1900s. Any help at all would be appreciated .
I’m a decendant of Samuel Leonard (1781-1871) and Phoebe Logan Leonard (1), Jacob Cosner (1809-1897) and Sarah Leonard (1820-1896) (2), William Henry Cosner (1842-1932) and Adelaide Wedge (1844-1915) (3), William Oria Cosner (1866-1954) and Emily Scott Cosner (1869-1959) (4) , William Carroll Cosner (1904–1983) and Margaret Grice (1907-1988).(5) Samuel and Phoebe, Jacob and Sarah, William H. and Adelaide, William O. and Emily are buried in the Cosner Cemetery, Burns Township, Henry County, Illinois. I have visited this family cemetery many times.
I am lookimg fpr on information on Samuel Leonard parent”s who were born in Washington or Greene County Pa.
Hi Elaine…
I don’t have anything on Samuel and Phoebe, but I know someone who’s looking for the same information. Let me see if I can hook the two of you up. At the very least, you can compare notes and not waste time covering the same dead ends.
-Rick
Hello Elaine,
Rick has set the ‘hook’ and I’m the catch! I too descend from Sam and Phebe Logan Leonard. I would enjoy sharing and comparing data. Please feel free to contact me at geaniology@sbcglobal.net
Jeanie Brown
Crystal Lake, IL
Rick – the new website is fabulous. I am so impressed. I can’t wait to read more.
Rick, I am looking fro the Leonard line of David Leonard from Louisa County, VA. He suposevely had two brothers named James and William. His son John named his sons after David, James and William. They migrated to SC around 1790.
I have traced my line to Georgia during the Revolutionary War . The predominate given names seem to be Calvin and James . I haven’t moved up the Appalachians yet but They moved into Alabama then on West . Don,t know if that helps . Earl Leonard
I am researching David Leonard (John Leonard)(David-James-William Leonard) of Lousa County, VA. Where would David have come into this country from Europe if he came straight into VA? Which port would have been the most likely that they would have arrived i I can’t tell where they came into VA, if they migrated into VA from Europe of from a state north of VA. HELP!!!
I am trying to find out for sure who the parents are of Phebe Leonard, wife of Eliab Byram (New Jersey) are/were. I have seen research that suggests the Iron Leonards, but also some that suggest the Mayflower Leonards. Byram papers I have say her father was Ephraim Leonard. Some researchers show Thomas, and some say her father was Ephraim Thomas. I have checked the links here for Leonard Histories (The Leonard Family and Stephen Banks Leonard files) and neither identified her father. I see where Sarah Leonard married Eliab Byram, but I’m not seeing how the two were related and proof. I just started on the Leonard line recently, and found this site yesterday. Any help or pointing in the right direction would be appreciated.
Thanks, Sandy
Hi All,
Thanks for this website, i was very curious about my family name as im proud of it and was looking for my family crest, i can only trace back my ggrandfather who’s name was Jeseph Leonard, my grandfather was Alexander Leonard, i have my grandfather’s Birth Certificate and he was born in London in 1909.
This is Quite fun, im from South Africa as mmy Grandfather Alex moved from London to South Africa after WW11. In 1960 my Parents were the only registered Leonard family in South Africa. there are many now, that came from other countries but im not sure of them.
Hi Bob
Re your interest in Leonards corner.I am researching my family tree and one of my great grandparents was Margaret McEvoy nee Leonard.Her father john had a business in rush county dublin where he was a merchant and boat owner also in 104 Marlborough street which he was a grocer spirit and ling merchant.also for a while in 100 Marlborough street had a hotel and tavern.when John Leonard died his wife took over the business. was between approx 1845 till 1870.When both died my gr grand mothers brother francis seemed to take over the running of the business.he opened places in Clanbrassill street south Circular rd area his premises were 30 upper clanbrassill street 20 21 and 22 Clanbrassill Terrace 64 65 and 66 clanbrassill buildings on upper clanbrassill street.His business’s were Grocer and wine merchant Haberdasher Ironmonger Glass delph coal and general merchant.He ran the Post money order and savings bank office.He also had a grocer’s shop on Dublin street Balbrigga co Dublin.He had no Family so bit bit it seems he sold of the Business’s.He died in 1914 age 83 his wife died maria died a few years later.The story of the Leonards was always in the family but I only found the details recently on find my past ireland.
P.S I was born in Clanbrassill street.
Fred
What to find out more about my family heritage . The most I know is my father Claude Leonard who was born in Hawkins county tn in 1933 to Sam Leonard and Martha Adams . I know that my great grandparents are buried in the area . Any info of the origin of the Leonard’s would be great. Thanks
My name is Dustin M Leonard. I live in Dayton OH. I have three brothers we all live near Dayton . We are from Rock Island ILL. are father is Dexter Leonard and his father was Max Leonard. I don’t know much more than that as far as the last name . but we are a proud of the name Leonard . So from Ohio this Leonard would like to wave my hand to all Leonard’s in the country