This information is from a unknown newspaper clipping.
"Take my word for it!" "What's in a name?"
By: Frank Colby.
Leech, is the modern spelling of the Anglo-Saxon Laece, "one who heals; a physician." Until comparatively recent years, the physician relied upon blood-letting in treating most ailments. The favorite method was by the use of the blood-sucking worm, Hirudo medicinal is, commonly called "leech." Whether the leech was named after the physician or the physician after the leech is uncertain. At any rate, in Wycliffe's translation of the Bible (about 1392) the first complete translation of the Vulgate into English, Luke IV, 23 reads: "Leech, heal thyself," instead of (Authorized Version:) "Physician, heal thyself."
This information is on page 320 and was derived from "The History of the House of Ochiltrees" book, compiled by Clementine (Brown) Railey and published by the Bulletin Printing Company, in 1916.
One account received says that John Leech I, and his sister, Agnes (Leech) Lackey were natives of Armagh County, Ireland.
This information was derived from "The Leech Family Several Branches" of The Rockbridge County Family. Compiled by Charles Bolivar Leech I, in about 1938-1942.
This family is a very ancient one; dating back to antiquity or to the early history of the English Nation.
The surname is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Leece" meaning a "Physician." The lowly, though useful little worm, so much in use by surgeons in earlier days, was named for the doctors, or leeches, who first introduced them to medical science. "Thither came the King's own Leech to look into his hurt."
The name is found in very early records in England, and is variable in spelling, however, there is a tradition that where it is spelled "Leech" it is to be known that the reference is made to ones of the first original family. It is quite clear, however, that ones of different spelling are of the same lineage.
We have the spelling from records in the form of "Middle English" Leche, leeche, "Old English" Laece, "Modern English" Leech and leach. Other variations are Leache, Leiche, Leich, Leash, Leetch, Leatch, Leitch.
John LeLeche:
During the reign of King Edward III, between 1327-1377 there rose to prominence one John LeLeche (suggestive of the French manner of spelling) who was the King's own Physician. This was the ancestor of the Derbyshire Leeches of [Chatsworth] England.
This was during the time when there were three visitations of the Plague, called then the Black Death. Surgeons of ability at this time were worth any price, being indispensable. John LeLeche was one to be most worthy, and was in great favor with the King.
The story goes:
Owing to the King's mother being of French birth, Edward thought that he deserved the French throne, and he fought many battles with the French Kings before he was persuaded otherwise. At the same time he was fighting battles with the Scotch King, David Bruce. Although he did not succeed in conquering them permanently, he did at one time have the two Kings prisoners. They being Kings could not be treated as ordinary prisoners, so Edward held them captives in the Palace, and spared no means to treat them royally. On one occasion he took them to dine at the home of his surgeon, John LeLeche. They were entertained to their hearts content, and were so well pleased, that each King presented him with a small crown, as a token of their appreciation. King Edward later granted John Leech (English) a large tract of land, and presented him with a Shield of Arms.
Arms: Ermine, on the chief indented Gules, with the three ducal cornets or, a dexter forearm coupled at the wrist, grasping a serpent.
Crest: Symbolic of his power to combat disease; a symbol dating from the time of Moses. The arms bears the name of the family, and is dispersed in many countries.
Motto: Industria. (Used by the Rockbridge Virginia Family) It is interesting to note the close similarity to the Arms used by the Letcher Family of Virginia.
Leche (Chatsworth County, Derby):
Arms: Ermine on chief indented, Gules (red) three crowns (gold) origin of the three crowns recorded in old pedigree.
"One of this ancient family lived in Buckshire near Windsor in the time of Edward III, entertained and feasted three kings in his house, I ye King of England, I ye King of France, I ye King of Scotts, which two Kings at that time were prisoners of King Edward; which King Edward III, to requite gave him three crowns on his chief indented gu, ze field ermine, which coat of arms is borne by the name and family dispersed in many other counties as Bedfordshire, Chesin and Lancaster, etc.
Crest: Out of the Ducal Coronet or (gold) an arm erect, ppr, grasping a luck (snake) environed around the arm, vest (green).
John Cyril Leech:
One of the recent arms ascribed to John Cyril Leech, gentleman, born 1890, son of John Henry Leech, gentleman, lord of the manor Hurdcott and Barford, England.
Motto: "Virtus eat venerabilis," may be translated: "Virtue is venerable." The snake in the crest is the emblem of wisdom and the brazen serpent, erected by Moses, proves the remote antiquity of the snake as a symbol.
In England in early days the name could be found in the counties of Oxford, York, Lancaster, Cornwall, Devon, Chester, Kent, Lincoln, Surrey, London, as well as in various parts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They were for the most part, of the landed gentry and yeomandry of Great Britain.
Down thru the ages this family has developed the strongest natural traits of human kind; from the very early days they were an adventurous people and scattered over the European Continent. The many branches of the American family no doubt have sprung from the same ancestry, and many no doubt from John Leech the Surgeon who lived and was prominent and useful 300 years before the first emigrant sailed for America.
Their choice of Christian names shows that they are peculiarly related and have reason to be proud of such names as John, David, Susanna, Sarah, Ann, Hanna, Joseph, William and others.
Many of this family not especially renown have lived sterling and useful lives and their right thinking has left its imprint and has had its effect. For the noble thoughts of man is the mind of God, shot into space to reach to eternity, exalted and echoing unto multitudes yet unborn.
This family is noted for its respectability, modesty, its honesty, never coveting riches, or high office or rank, slow to be domineering, but sturdy and unflinching in time of necessity, skillful, artistic, musical, industrious, unafraid when principals are involved; unafraid and composed in death, unemotional, yet having great hearts.
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