Ages History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Ages is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a prominent cliff or ridge; on a hillside. 1 2 Early Origins of the Ages familyThe surname Ages 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 Ages familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ages research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1260 is included under the topic Early Ages History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ages Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Ages are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Ages include: Edge, Edges, Egge, Eadge, Eadges, Egg, Eage, Egges, Eggs and many more. Early Notables of the Ages familyMore information is included under the topic Early Ages Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ages family to IrelandSome of the Ages family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Ages familyMany English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Ages or a variant listed above: Robert Edge who settled in Boston in 1635; and Thomas Edge who brought his wife and family to Virginia in 1637.
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