This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Loveday f. Old English lēof 'dear, loved' + Old English dæġ 'day'.

According to Withycombe s.n. Loveday, the name was often given to children born on a 'love day', a dies amoris, that is, a day for disputants to come together to try to resolve their differences amicably. The name is not found outside of England, and was most common in Devon and Cornwall.

England
Latin
● 1381 Loveday (nom) Suffolk1381 p. 82
Early Modern English
● 1574 Lowdye COmar-vol5 p. 126; 1579 Lowdy COmar-vol2 p. 71; 1582 Lowdy DEmar-vol2 p. 8; 1584 Lowdy COmar-vol2 p. 71; 1589 Lowdy ibid. p. 72; 1590 Lowdy ibid. p. 72
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Loveday". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2016, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2016/3/name/Loveday.