| ![Show Contents]() Elgar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Elgar is a name that dates far back into the mists of early British history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is derived from a group of baptismal surnames which all mean the son of Eggar or the son of Agar. "Probably a form of Algar, a Domesday personal name, and very popular for several centuries." 1 "Aighear signifies gladness, joy, gayety. If from the Latin ager, it denotes a field or land." 2 In Scotland, "Aeggar was king of the Scots a. 1189." 3 Early Origins of the Elgar familyThe surname Elgar was first found in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. "The Agars, an old York family of the 17th and 18th centuries, gained considerable estate by trade and founded a hospital in that city. Thomas Agar, tanner, was lord mayor of York in 1618, and the same office was filled by Thomas Agar, woollen draper, in 1724. Agar is still a York name." 4 Early History of the Elgar familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elgar research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1672, 1703, 1713, 1714, 1715, 1727, 1733 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Elgar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Elgar Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Elgar are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Elgar include: Agar, Algar, Alger, Algore, Augar, Auger, Elger, Elgar, Eager, Eagar, Etches, Eaches and many more. Early Notables of the Elgar familyNotables of this surname at this time include: John Eager, born 1782 at Norwich, where his father was a musical instrument maker and organ builder. Having learned from his father the rudiments of music, he was at twelve years old taken under the care of the Duke of Dorset, an amateur violinist, who carried him to his seat at Knole, where free access to the library enabled him to repair the defects of his early education. His patron...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elgar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Elgar family to Ireland
Some of the Elgar family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Elgar migration to the United States | + |
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Elgar or a variant listed above:
Elgar Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Joseph Elgar, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1720 5
- Francis Elgar, who settled in Georgia in 1733
- Bishop Elgar, who arrived in Georgia in 1739 5
- Fra Elgar, who landed in Georgia in 1739 5
- Mary and William Elgar, who landed in America in 1764
Elgar Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James Elgar, who arrived in New York in 1835 5
| Contemporary Notables of the name Elgar (post 1700) | + |
- Sir Edward William Elgar OM, GCVO (1857-1934), one of the great English orchestral composers, who wrote the popular "Pomp and Circumstance" marches, Cello Concerto and many more
- Charles Anthony "Charlie" Elgar (1879-1973), American jazz bandleader
- Avril Elgar (b. 1932), English stage, radio and television actress
- Caroline Alice Elgar (1848-1920), Lady Elgar, born Caroline Alice Roberts, an English author of verse and prose fiction, wife of the composer Edward Elgar
- Michael Maximino "Mike" C. Elgar (b. 1976), Filipino musician, lead guitarist of Rivermaya
- Dean Elgar (b. 1987), South African cricketer
- George Elgar Hicks (1824-1914), English painter
- Elgar Howarth (b. 1935), English conductor and composer
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Elgar migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
Scotland
