Edgeston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the bearers of the Edgeston family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found near a prominent cliff or ridge; on a hillside. 1 2

Early Origins of the Edgeston family

The surname Edgeston 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 Edgeston family

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

Edgeston Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Edgeston include Edge, Edges, Egge, Eadge, Eadges, Egg, Eage, Egges, Eggs and many more.

Early Notables of the Edgeston family

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

Migration of the Edgeston family to Ireland

Some of the Edgeston 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 Edgeston family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Edgeston 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.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)