Light is a surname of the English language.

Etymology

Coming from

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

, there are several possible meanings. From the Middle English lyght it means a happy, cheerful person. The

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

leoht could be a person who is ‘bright’ or ‘cheerful’. The two forms of light - leoht and lioht had distinct meanings, but became mixed over time. The Middle English word lite, coming from Old English l¯t ‘little’, also became lyght.

Individuals

Light may refer to: *

Alan Light Alan Light (born August 4, 1966) is an American journalist who has been a rock critic for ''Rolling Stone'' and the editor-in-chief for ''Vibe,'' '' Spin,'' and ''Tracks''.http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2003/11/18/new_music ...

(born c. 1966), US journalist and music reviewer * Alan L. Light (born 1953), founder of the ''

Comics Buyer's Guide ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (''CBG''; ), established in 1971, was the longest-running English-language periodical reporting on the American comic book industry. It awarded its annual Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards from 1983 to circa 2010. The public ...

'' *

Alex Light Alex Light (born May 2, 1996) is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Richmond, and was originally sign ...

(born 1994), American football player *Bill Light and Billy Light - see William Light (disambiguation), several people: :* Bill Light (Willam "Bill" C. Light, b. 1949), American farmer and politician :* Billy Light (William Henry "Billy" Light, 1913–1993), English footballer * Danny Light (1948–2014), English footballer *

Douglas Light Douglas Light (born Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American novelist, screenwriter, and short story writer. Background Light cowrote the screen adaptation (''The Trouble with Bliss'') of his debut novel ''East Fifth Bliss''. The film stars Gold ...

(fl. 1990s–present), US author * Elisha Light (1873–1952), English cricketer *

Enoch Light Enoch Henry Light (August 18, 1907 – July 31, 1978) was an American classically trained violinist, danceband leader, and recording engineer. As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at le ...

(1907–1978), US classical violinist and bandleader *

Francis Light Captain Francis Light ( – 21 October 1794) was a British explorer and the founder of the British colony of Penang (in modern-day Malaysia) and its capital city of George Town in 1786. Light and his lifelong partner, Martina Rozells, were th ...

(1740–1794), founder of the British colony of Penang * George Thomas Light (1820–1896), organist and architect in South Australia * H. Wayne Light (born 1945), US academic and author * James Light (born c. 1803), English cricketer * James F. Light (1921–2002), US literature scholar and university VP & provost *

Jay Light (musician) Jay Light is an oboist and author. He is a native of Philadelphia. His teachers were John de Lancie, Charles M. Morris, and Norman Wells, jr., all of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is a 1963 graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music. He was p ...

(fl. 1970s–present), US musician * Jay Owen Light (1941–2022), US academic and university dean * Jennifer S. Light (fl. 2000s), US academic and author * John Light (disambiguation), several people: :*

John Light (actor) John Andrew Light (born 30 September 1973) is an English television, theatre, and film actor. He has received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his supporting performance in the play ''Taken at Midnight'' (2014). Career Light appeared as ...

(born 1973), English cinema, television and theatre actor :* John H. Light, American lawyer, Connecticut politician and Attorney General *

Judith Light Judith Ellen Light (born February 9, 1949) is an American actress. She made her professional stage debut in 1970, before making her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of ''A Doll's House''. Her breakthrough role was in the ABC daytime soap opera ...

(born 1949), US television actress *

Kevin Light Kevin Richard Light (born May 16, 1979) is a Canadian rower. Early life He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia but has lived in Victoria, British Columbia since 1985. He began rowing at Stelly's High School in grade 12 and graduated in 19 ...

(born 1979), Canadian rower *

Matt Light Matthew Charles Light (born June 23, 1978) is a former American football offensive tackle who spent his entire 11-year career playing for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Purdue Univ ...

(born 1978), US football player * Paul Light (fl. 1980s–present), English academic and university chancellor * Richard Upjohn Light (1902–1994), US neurosurgeon, aviator, cinematographer, and president of the American Geographical Society *

Timothy Light Timothy Light (born 1938) is an American sinologist who took a Chinese name "黎天睦" (Pinyin: Lí Tíanmù). He was the fourteenth president of Middlebury College, 1990–1991. A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Light is a scholar in East Asian ...

(born 1938), professor emeritus at Western Michigan University *

Walter Light Walter J. Light (1927–1979) was an American timpanist, percussionist, and drummaker. At the age of 16, he was appointed to a percussion position in the Denver Symphony Orchestra, joining his father, Walter E. Light, who was the timpanist. H ...

(1927–1979), US musician * Walter Frederick Light (1923–1996), Canadian businessman * William Light (disambiguation), several people, including :*

William Light William Light (27 April 1786 – 6 October 1839), also known as Colonel Light, was a British- Malayan naval and army officer. He was the first Surveyor-General of the new British Province of South Australia, known for choosing the site o ...

(1786–1839), first Surveyor-General of South Australia :* William Light (cricketer) (1878–1930), English cricketer :* William Light (Kansas politician) :*

William Sidney "Cap" Light William Sidney "Cap" Light was a Texas lawman from 1884 until his death in 1893, when he accidentally shot himself. He had a shining reputation, except for the period (1891–1892) when he worked for his brother-in-law, the infamous badman, Soap ...

(died 1893), Texas lawman *

Zion Lights Zion Lights (born June 1984) is a British author and activist known for her environmental work and science communication. She was a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion (XR) UK on TV and radio between 2018 and 2020, and founded and edited XR' ...

, British-Indian activist Fictional People *

Doctor Light (disambiguation) Doctor Light is the name (or codename) of various fictional scientists. * Doctor Light (character), any of the characters from DC Comics **Doctor Light (Arthur Light), the DC Comics supervillain ** Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi), the DC Comics superh ...

, three comicbook characters

References

{{surname English-language surnames

Etymology

Individuals

See also

References