Alguire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Alguire family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from a group of baptismal surnames which all mean the son of Eggar or the son of Agar. "Probably a form of Algar, a Domesday personal name, and very popular for several centuries." 1

"Aighear signifies gladness, joy, gayety. If from the Latin ager, it denotes a field or land." 2

In Scotland, "Aeggar was king of the Scots a. 1189." 3

Early Origins of the Alguire family

The surname Alguire was first found in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

"The Agars, an old York family of the 17th and 18th centuries, gained considerable estate by trade and founded a hospital in that city. Thomas Agar, tanner, was lord mayor of York in 1618, and the same office was filled by Thomas Agar, woollen draper, in 1724. Agar is still a York name." 4

Early History of the Alguire family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alguire research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1672, 1703, 1713, 1714, 1715, 1727, 1733 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Alguire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alguire Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Alguire include Agar, Algar, Alger, Algore, Augar, Auger, Elger, Elgar, Eager, Eagar, Etches, Eaches and many more.

Early Notables of the Alguire family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Eager, born 1782 at Norwich, where his father was a musical instrument maker and organ builder. Having learned from his father the rudiments of music, he was at twelve years old taken under the care of the Duke of Dorset, an amateur violinist, who carried him to his seat at Knole, where free access to the library enabled him to repair the defects of his early education. His patron...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Alguire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alguire family to Ireland

Some of the Alguire family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alguire migration to Canada +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Alguire were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Alguire Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Jacob Alguire Jr., U.E., United Empire Loyalist who settled in Eastern District Ognasburg [Osnabruck], Ontario c. 1783 5
Mr. John Alguire Sr., U.E., United Empire Loyalist who settled in Canada c. 1783 5
Mr. Jacob Alguire U.E., United Empire Loyalist who settled in Canada c. 1783 5
Mr. Jacob Alguire Sr., U.E., United Empire Loyalist who settled in Eastern District, Cornwall, Ontario c. 1783 5
Mr. John Alguire U.E., United Empire Loyalist who settled in Canada c. 1783 upon petition of his son Martain Alguire, December 15, 1832, Order on December 15, 1834 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Alguire (post 1700) +

Duncan Orestes Alguire (1853-1925), Canadian politician and physician, Member of Parliament for Stormont (1911-1917)

The Alguire 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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.

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)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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