Show ContentsEggs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Eggs surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived near a prominent cliff or ridge; on a hillside. 1 2

Early Origins of the Eggs family

The surname Eggs was first found in Worcestershire where Henry del Egge was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1221. A few years later, John de Egge was listed in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1260 and atte Egge was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327. 3

The original Edge family probably lived on the side of a hill and were described by the Saxon word "ecg" which meant "edge." After the Norman invasion of England in 1066 the surname was usually spelled "Egge." 1 4

Edge is a township, in the parish of Malpas, union of Great Boughton, higher division of the hundred of Broxton in Cheshire; a tything, in the parish of Painswick, union of Stroud, hundred of Bisley, in Gloucestershire; and a township, in the parish of Pontesbury, union of Atcham, hundred of Ford, S. division of the county of Salop (Shropshire.) 5 Another source claims "a location name in Yorkshire," 6 but we cannot trace this.

"The name of Edge is well represented in the Derby district. Several of the boroughreeves of Manchester bore this name last century." 7

In Somerset, early records there show Robert atte Egge and Is (?Isabel) atte Egge, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 8 Only one entry was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, that of John de Egge, Salop and similarly in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, Agnes del Egge. 9

In Lancashire, the Lay Subsidy Rolls record Henry del Egge of Withington, Lancashire, 1332; and John del Egge, of Reddish, Lancashire, 1332. "Therefore the Lancashire Edges probably hailed from Alderley Edge." 9

Early History of the Eggs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eggs research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1260 is included under the topic Early Eggs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eggs Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Eggs include Edge, Edges, Egge, Eadge, Eadges, Egg, Eage, Egges, Eggs and many more.

Early Notables of the Eggs family

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

Ireland Migration of the Eggs family to Ireland

Some of the Eggs family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eggs family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Robert Edge who settled in Boston in 1635; and Thomas Edge who brought his wife and family to Virginia in 1637.



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  8. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  9. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook