Show ContentsMugridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Welsh name Mugridge go back to the ancient Celtic culture that existed in the hills and Moors of Wales. The forbears that initially held the name Mugridge once lived in or near the settlement of Mogridge in the southwestern English county of Devon. The surname Mugridge belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Mugridge family

The surname Mugridge was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries), where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Mugridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mugridge research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mugridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mugridge Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Mugridge has occasionally been spelled Muggeridge, Mugeridge, Mugridge, Moderidge, Modridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Mugridge family

More information is included under the topic Early Mugridge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Mugridge migration to the United States +

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Mugridge:

Mugridge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Francis Mugridge, who settled in Georgia in 1732
  • Francis Mugridge, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1733 1
Mugridge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Mugridge, who settled in Charleston in 1822
  • J. Mugridge, who arrived in California in 1852

Contemporary Notables of the name Mugridge (post 1700) +

  • John Y. Mugridge, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate 4th District, 1868-70 2
  • Bob Mugridge, Canadian actor, known for The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens (2008) and Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes (2010)
  • Gabrielle Mugridge, Canadian actress, known for The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens (2008)
  • Dalton Mugridge, Canadian actor, known for Full Meta Racket (2018), Depraved Mind (2023) and The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens (2008)


The Mugridge 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: Dat deus incrementum
Motto Translation: God gives increase.


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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