Light

Etymology

Coming from Middle English, there are several possible meanings. In Middle English, lyght means a happy, cheerful person. The Old English 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.

People

Alan Light (born 1966), American journalist and music reviewer

Alan Light (comics) (born 1953), American founder of the Comics Buyer's Guide

Alex Light (born 1994), American football player

Allie Light (1935–2025), American film producer, director and editor

Bill Light (born 1949), American farmer and politician

Billy Light (1913–1993), English footballer

Daniel Light (born 1974 or 1975), British disc jockey

Danny Light (1948–2014), English footballer

Douglas Light (fl. 1990s–present), American author

Edward Light (1747–1832), English musician, inventor of the harp-lute

Elisha Light (1873–1952), English cricketer

Enoch Light (1907–1978), American classical violinist and bandleader

Francis Light (1740–1794), founder of the British colony of Penang

George Thomas Light (1820–1896), organist and architect in South Australia

Henry Light (1782/3–1870), third governor of British Guiana

H. Wayne Light (1945–2015), American academic and author

James Light (cricketer) (born c. 1803), English cricketer

James Light (director) (1895–1964), American director and actor

James F. Light (1921–2002), American literature scholar and university VP and provost

Jay Light (musician) (fl. 1970s–present), American musician

Jay Owen Light (1941–2022), American academic and university dean

Jennifer S. Light (fl. 2000s), American academic and author

John Light (actor) (born 1973), English cinema, television and theatre actor

John H. Light, American lawyer, Connecticut politician and Attorney General

Judith Light (born 1949), American television actress

Kevin Light (born 1979), Canadian rower

Matt Light (born 1978), American football player

Paul Light (psychologist), British psychologist and the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester

Paul C. Light, American political scientist

Richard Upjohn Light (1902–1994), American neurosurgeon, aviator, cinematographer, and president of the American Geographical Society

Timothy Light (born 1938), professor emeritus at Western Michigan University

Walter Light (1927–1979), American musician

Walter Frederick Light (1923–1996), Canadian businessman

William Light (1786–1839), first Surveyor-General of South Australia

William Light (cricketer) (1878–1930), English cricketer

William Sidney "Cap" Light (died 1893), Texas lawman