Show ContentsBadgley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Badgley is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo Saxon tribes of Britain. The first people to bear this distinguished name lived at Badley, a parish, in the union and hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, E. division of Suffolk, [1] or at Baddeley Green in Staffordshire. The latter dates back to 1227 when it was known as Baddilige and literally meant "woodland clearing or a man called Badda." [2]

Other sources note that the family could have originated at Baddiley, a parish in Cheshire, near Nantwich. [3] [4] [5]

Early Origins of the Badgley family

The surname Badgley was first found in Hampshire where Robert de Badelea was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1187. Later, Gilbert de Badele was found in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1227 and John de Baddyleye in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1327. [6]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include William de Badeleye, Essex and Geoffrey de Badele, Suffolk. [3]

Robert de Badele, Norfolk, Henry III— Edward I was listed in the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. [7]

Early History of the Badgley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Badgley research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1608, 1646, 1648, 1650, 1653, 1688, 1703, 1704 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Badgley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Badgley Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Badgley 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 Badgley include: Baddely, Baddeley, Baddiley, Badley, Badly, Badely, Badgely, Badlely and many more.

Early Notables of the Badgley family

Distinguished members of the family include John Battely (Batteley) (1646-1708), an English antiquary and clergyman, Archdeacon of Canterbury (1688-1708); and his brother Nicholas Battely (1648-1704), an English clergyman and antiquary, editor of William Somner’s Cantuaria Sacra.Richard Baddeley...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Badgley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Badgley Ranking

In the United States, the name Badgley is the 16,258th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [8]


United States Badgley migration to the United States +

Many 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 Badgley or a variant listed above:

Badgley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Tom Badgley, who settled in San Francisco, California, in 1852
  • C G Badgley, aged 40, who arrived in America, in 1892
  • Mrs C G Badgley, aged 32, who arrived in America, in 1892
  • Raymond Badgley, aged 36, who arrived in America, in 1893
Badgley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Albert Badgley, aged 18, who arrived in America, in 1902
  • Sidney R. Badgley, who arrived in America, in 1907
  • Minnie Badgley, aged 46, who arrived in America, in 1908
  • Robert T. Badgley, aged 51, who arrived in America, in 1914
  • Nora H. Badgley, aged 45, who arrived in America, in 1914

Canada Badgley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Badgley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Badgley U.E. who settled in Lincoln County, Niagara, Ontario c. 1783 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Badgley (post 1700) +

  • Helen Badgley (1908-1977), American child actress of the silent film era
  • Penn Dayton Badgley (b. 1986), American actor
  • Verne Badgley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for supervisor of Summit Township, Michigan, 1919
  • Nathan E. Badgley, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for New York State Senate 16th District, 1912
  • Maxwell F. Badgley (1898-1969), American Republican politician, Served in the U.S. Navy during World War I; Lawyer; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1944
  • Don Badgley, American Republican politician, Candidate for nomination for Governor of North Carolina, 1964
  • Sidney Rose Badgley (1850-1917), Canadian-born architect, known for his work in Canada and the United States
  • Francis Badgley (1767-1841), Canadian merchant, politician, and newspaper editor
  • William Badgley (1801-1888), Canadian professor of law at McGill College and was the first dean of the Faculty of Law, son of Francis Badgley


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. 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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