Show ContentsGeddie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Scottish name Geddie is thought to be a habitational name, taken on from a place name in the county of Nairn. The place name Geddes is thought to have come from a Gaelic term for a mountain ridge. It has also been suggested that the surname was a patronymic created from the personal name Geddie, of uncertain origin, but which may come from a Scots dialect word "gedd," meaning "pike."

Early Origins of the Geddie family

The surname Geddie was first found in Nairnshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Narann) in northern Scotland, today part of the Council Area of Highland where they held the lands of Geddes, formerly held by the Rose family. Further south the Gedding variant were first found in the parish of Gedding in Suffolk. "This place, which comprises about 580 acres, was the property of Sir John Gedding, who resided in the manorhouse of Gedding Hall, and died about the 21st of the reign of Edward I." [1]

Early History of the Geddie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Geddie research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1394, 1406, 1470, 1558, 1590, 1597, 1600, 1650, 1660, 1694, 1713, 1737, 1739, 1799, 1802 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Geddie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Geddie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Geddes, Geddas, Geddis, Gedes, Geddeis, Geddy and many more.

Early Notables of the Geddie family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was John Gedy , the Abbot of Arbroath in 1394, said to have been influential in creating the harbour there. According to Edinburgh tradition, Jenny Geddes (c.1600-c. 1660), a Scottish market-trader is said to have thrown a stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland. The act is supposed to...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Geddie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Geddie family to Ireland

Some of the Geddie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Geddie migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Geddie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Daniel Geddie, who arrived in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1772 [2]
  • Jahn Geddie, who landed in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1772 [2]
Geddie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Albt. E. Geddie, aged 35, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1897
  • Robert Geddie, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States, in 1897
Geddie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • David Geddie, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States, in 1920
  • George Geddie, aged 24, who landed in America from Greenock, Scotland, in 1920
  • George Geddie, aged 24, who settled in America from Thurso, Scotland, in 1920
  • John Geddie, aged 27, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1923

Australia Geddie migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Geddie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Ann Geddie, aged 25, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Geddie (post 1700) +

  • William Fredrick "Bill" Geddie (1955-2023), American television producer, best known for being co-creator of ABC Daytime's The View
  • E. C. Geddie, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 1940 [4]
  • John Geddie (1848-1937), Scottish journalist and author from Garmouth, Moray
  • Glynn Geddie (b. 1990), Scottish racing driver from Aberdeen, he won the 2011 British GT Championship
  • John Geddie (1815-1872), Scottish-born, Canadian missionary who was known as "the father of Presbyterian missions in the South Seas"
  • Lieutenant Rufus Geddie Herring (1921-1996), United States Naval Reserve officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945


The Geddie Motto +

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: Capta majora
Motto Translation: Seek greater things.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)
  3. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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