Gender Masculine

Meaning & History

The name of an early king of the Britons, according to the 12th-century chronicles [1] of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Leir's name may be connected to the city where he reigned, Leicester (named Kaerleir by Geoffrey). Alternatively it might be derived from the name of the legendary Welsh figure Llŷr. The story of Leir and his daughters was later adapted by Shakespeare for his play King Lear (1606).

Related Names

VariantLear

Categories

Sources & References

Entry updated January 21, 2022