Lovely Family History

English: nickname for an amiable person also perhaps sometimes given in an ironical sense from Middle English luvelich loveli (Old English luflic).

During the main period of surname formation the word was used in an active sense ‘loving kind affectionate’ as well as the passive ‘lovable worthy of love’.

The meaning ‘attractive beautiful’ is not clearly attested before the 14th century and remained rare throughout the Middle Ages.

Americanized form of French Lavallée ‘the valley’ (see Lavallee).