Less

The surname Less originated in England and has Anglo-Saxon roots. It is derived from the Old English word "lǽs," which means "pasture" or "meadow." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a pasture or meadow, or perhaps someone who tended livestock in such an area.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Less can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book includes several entries for individuals with the surname Less or similar spellings, such as Lesse or Lesse.

In the 13th century, the surname Less appeared in various records and documents, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records from the time of King Edward I. These rolls list several individuals with the surname Less residing in various counties across England, such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

One notable figure with the surname Less was John Less, a 15th-century English churchman and academic. He was born in Hertfordshire around 1420 and served as the Master of Clare College, Cambridge from 1463 until his death in 1478.

Another individual with the surname Less was William Less, an English soldier and explorer who lived in the late 16th century. He is best known for his participation in Sir Walter Raleigh's expeditions to the Americas, and he is said to have played a role in the establishment of the Roanoke Colony in present-day North Carolina.

In the 17th century, the surname Less can be found in various parish records and other documents. For example, a man named Thomas Less was born in Dorset, England, in 1632, and he later emigrated to the American colonies, settling in Virginia in the 1650s.

Another notable person with the surname Less was Richard Less, an English writer and clergyman who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born in Berkshire in 1670 and is best known for his work "The Ceremonial Laws of Christ's House," which was published in 1719.

Throughout history, the surname Less has also been associated with various place names and locations, particularly in England. For instance, there is a village called Lessingham in Norfolk, which likely derived its name from the Old English words "lǽs" and "inga," meaning "the people of the meadow."