Show ContentsWigle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Wigle surname comes from the Old English words "wicga," meaning a "bug," and " leah," meaning a clearing in the woods. There are several places in England named from these words, such as Wigley in Derbyshire, Wigley, Shropshire, Wigley Cross in Dorset, and Wigley in Hampshire; the surname may have been a habitational name, taken on from one of these place names.

Early Origins of the Wigle family

The surname Wigle was first found in Derbyshire where they held a family seat at Brampton during the reign of king Edward III (ruled 1327-1377). The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1328 when they held a family seat in Brampton in that shire.

Early History of the Wigle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wigle research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1683, 1776 and 1795 are included under the topic Early Wigle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wigle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wigley, Whigley, Wiggeley, Wygley, Wyggeley, Wiggerley and many more.

Early Notables of the Wigle family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Wigley family of Derbyshire...
  • Edmund Wigley married into the manor of Bayton, county Worcester in 1795...


Canada Wigle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wigle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Wendel Wigle U.E. (b. 1753) born in Germany from Little York, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Gosfield Township [Amherstburg], Essex County, Ontario c. 1784 married to Julianna Romerin in 1776 having 11 children, he died in 1816 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Wigle (post 1700) +

  • Second Lieutenant Thomas W Wigle (1909-1944), American officer awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944
  • Solomon Wigle (1822-1898), Ontario businessman and political figure
  • Lewis Wigle (1845-1934), Canadian businessman and political figure


  1. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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