Contents [hide]

Jago History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Jago History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

While surnames were well-known during the English medieval period, Cornish People originally used only a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames came into common use is interesting. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Patronymic surnames were derived from given names and were the predominant type of surname among the Celtic peoples of Britain. However, the people of Cornwall provide a surprising exception to this rule, and patronymic surnames are less common among them than other people of Celtic stock, such as their Welsh neighbors. This type of surname blended perfectly with the prevailing Feudal System. One feature that is occasionally found in Cornish surnames of this type is the suffix -oe or -ow; this is derived from the Cornish plural suffix -ow. is a patronymic surname that came from the personal name James, which itself is a version of the ancient name Jacob, which means supplanter.

Early Origins of the Jago family

The surname Jago was first found in Cornwall, where there is some debate of the name's origins. One reference lists that the name was "from the Spanish Iago, which must have crossed over into Cornwall at some early period." 1 While another states "whether it derives from the Celtic-British Iago, and signifies James or from gago or jago, a spear and pledges for battle; however, the name was of ancient use in Britain; for Galfridus Monmuthensis tells us of a king named Jago, before Julius Caesar landed in Britain, that reigned twenty-five years, and is buried at York." 2

The parish of St. Erme in Cornwall was an early home for the family. "The barton of Innis or Ennis, was at an early period possessed by the Opies, who held it so late as the days of James I. during which period it was sold by them to an ancestor of Samuel Jago, Esq." 3 It is generally thought that the name Jago is Cornish for the name James and in Welsh records as Iago. 4

Early rolls point to a variety of spellings and entries of both as a forename and surname: Jago filius Ytel listed in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1185; and William Jeago in the Assize Rolls for Shropshire in 1221. 4

Early History of the Jago family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jago research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1684, 1723, 1724 and 1807 are included under the topic Early Jago History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jago Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Jago, Jagoe, Jagow, Jeago, Jego, Mac Ego and many more.

Early Notables of the Jago family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

John Jago (1684-1724), Cornish minister and justice in St...

Migration of the Jago family to Ireland

Some of the Jago family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jago migration to the United States +

A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Jago:

Jago Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Jago, aged 27, who arrived in Key West, Fla in 1837 5
Louise Jago, who landed in Texas in 1846 5
John, Patrick and Hester Jago to Boston in 1849
Catherine Jago to Boston in 1850
Mr. Oliver Jago, (b. 1862), aged 27, Cornish settler departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving in the United States on 8 April 1889 6

Jago Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Phillip Jago, (b. 1845), aged 55, Cornish slater travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th March 1900 en route to Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA 7
Mr. William J. Jago, (b. 1900), aged 5, Cornish settler from Bodmin, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th October 1905 en route to Bessemer, Michigan, USA 7
Mr. Charles Henry Jago, (b. 1867), aged 38, Cornish labourer from Bodmin, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th October 1905 en route to Bessemer, Michigan, USA 7
Mrs. Mary Jane Jago, (b. 1880), aged 25, Cornish settler from Bodmin, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th October 1905 en route to Bessemer, Michigan, USA 7

Jago migration to Australia +

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

Jago Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Jago, (b. 1807), aged 42, Cornish farm labourer travelling aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 6th June 1849 8
Mrs. Susannah Jago, (b. 1807), aged 42, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 6th June 1849 8
Miss Maria Jago, (b. 1831), aged 18, Cornish housemaid travelling aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 6th June 1849 8
Miss Mary Ann Jago, (b. 1833), aged 16, Cornish housemaid travelling aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 6th June 1849 8
Mr. Henry Jago, (b. 1834), aged 15, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 6th June 1849 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jago migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Jago Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Mary Ann Jago, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 9
Miss Maria Jago, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 9
Mr. John Jago, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 9
Miss Mary Ann Jago, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 9
Mr. Charles Jago, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Canning" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1857 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jago migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 10

Jago Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Walter Jago to Barbados in 1634
Mr. Walter Jago, aged 20, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Jago (post 1700) +

Donna Jago, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2004 11
Denise Jago, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 2000 11
Frederick William Pearce Jago (1838-1892), English scholar, best known for his work The Ancient Language and the Dialect of Cornwall (1882)
Ann Jago (b. 1939), English cricketer who played two Test matches for the England women's cricket team in the 1960–61 season
James Jago FRS (1815-1893), English physician, Fellow of the Royal Society
Richard Jago (1715-1781), English poet
Gordon Harold Jago MBE (b. 1932), former English association football player and manager
June Jago (1926-2010), Australian-born, British actress who appeared in two of the Carry On films - Carry On Regardless (1961) and Carry On Doctor (1967)
Becky Jago (b. 1976), born Rebecca Gunton, a British television news presenter
Arnold Henry "Harry" Jago (1913-1997), Australian Liberal member of the New South Wales, Mayor of Ku-ring-gai (1960-1961)
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Jago family +

HMS Cornwall

Edwin Charles Ebeneser Jago (d. 1942), British Cook Assistant aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 12

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Leslie May Jago, British Ship Write 4th Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 13

HMS Royal Oak

Leslie Jago (d. 1939), British Telegraphist with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 14

RMS Titanic

Mr. Joseph Jago (d. 1912), aged 57, English Greaser from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 15

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html