This Web Site is dedicated to my mother Veronica LACKENBY,{1934-1994} who first  inspired me to research the LACKENBY family. The site is initially aimed at  the members of my family, but as a member of the Guild Of One Name Studies I  hope to incorporate all other LACKENBY/LECKENBY/LECKONBY family trees within the site  which may or may not be connected to my own family. I offer help to anyone researching any LACKENBY or LECKENBY Family.

People often ask me if ‘Lackenby’ and ‘Leckenby’ are in the same family. My mother Veronica LACKENBY was born in Wallsend, Northumberland, however her 4X Great Grandfather originated from Yorkshire, who was Joseph LECKENBY. Her 5 X Great Grandfather was Thomas LECONBY.

The simple explanation for this is dialect as it effects the way the surname sounds in different parts of the country. In my research I have found that more LACKENBY variations are found more in the North East of England and LECKENBY variations are found the N. Yorkshire ridings but LECKONBY variations appear to come from the E. Yorkshire ridings and Lancashire.

Another explanation is that until the mid 1800’s very few people could read or write, so anyone such as enumerators at census times or parish clerks would have to write down information for parishioners without them being able to to verify the spelling of their names. They would write what they could understand their name to be, depending on the dialect and of course if they were slightly deaf it would change their name even more.  A true example of this can be found when my mothers 5X Great Grandparents moved from Swainby in Yorkshire, to live in Denton in Durham when they first married. Everyone of the seven children baptised in Denton has their surnames spelt totally different, which one can presume the parish clerk was partially deaf as their surnames were noted as Lackinby , Lickenby, Laconby, Lackonbie, Lackenby, Lickemby and Laconbie and Leconby. When they fell on hard times they moved back to Where they came from to Yorkshire and had two further children with their surnames spelt ‘Leckenby’ The moral of the story is to keep an open mind when reading records pre 1900’s.

I currently add all Lackenby trees on here even if they are not presently connected, as my aim is once a connection is maintained I will join it to my own. There were less than 200 Lackenby families on the first census in 1841 and on the whole Lackenby is quite an unusual name, so it’s my aim to join them all up one day. So I am grateful for any help from you to join our family together.  I also put all connected families on too as well as all the photos that have been given by you. 

 Please look at my guest page as other family researchers have put their interests on for anyone to contact them. If you have any queries or need help with your own tree please feel free to leave a message in my guest book or you can email at.   mcmanusc41@icloud.com.  

You may be interested in looking at GOONS: Guild of  One name studies where every researcher for most surnames can help with the Surname you are researching. The link can be found on the home page of this site.

 The only meaning I have been able to find of the LACKENBY surname is - `The  Shouting One` or `slow moving`. My LACKENBY family  mainly covers Yorkshire,  Durham, Northumberland and Lancashire counties, as well as some members moving  to USA and Austrailia. 

Ive been rather busy the last few years but now that 2021 is here I’m semi retiring and so I am hoping to spend more time building up our family tree.  Good luck with your research and thank you for taking the time to look at my site.

 For all those that are interested on Crests or Coats of Arms, I have to say  that there is no Coat of Arms for the Lackenby or Leckenby surname.

© copyright 1998-2005 Lackenby Genealogy by C A McManus, All rights reserved. Only direct descendants, libraries and genealogical societies may use this information. Any commercial use and/or selling of this information are strictly prohibited without prior written permission by C A McManus