Show ContentsEgelay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Egelay family

The surname Egelay was first found in Cheshire at Edgerley, a civil parish and township in the parish of Alford, union of Great Boughton, Lower division of the hundred of Broxton. 1

The first record of the surname was found in the year 1189 when Albert de Edgardle held estates in that shire. Hugh Eggerley was listed at Oxford in 1440. 2

Early History of the Egelay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Egelay research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Egelay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Egelay 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 Egelay 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. The variations of the name Egelay include: Edgerley, Edgelly, Edgely, Egerley, Egelly, Egely, Edgeley, Hedgely, Hedgerly and many more.

Early Notables of the Egelay family

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

Migration of the Egelay family

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 Egelay or a variant listed above: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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