Glegg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Glegg name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Cheshire at Gayton. "The Gleggs of Gayton were an ancient and distinguished family, now mostly represented amongst the gentry." 1 Black notes that "the name Glegg, Gleig, or Glyge is traditionally of French origin, but no evidence is produced in support of the statement." 2 The author continues "the first of the family of whom we have any authentic record is Adam Glyge mentioned on a tombstone in Marykirk, 1698."

Early Origins of the Glegg family

The surname Glegg was first found in Cheshire at Gayton, a township, in the parish of Heswall, union, and Lower division of the hundred, of Wirrall. "The manor was given by Edward I. to Reginald de Tibermont of Normandy, who having soon after surrendered it into the king's hands, it was granted in 1277 to the convent of Vale Royal. In 1312 the abbot gave it to Stephen de Merton in part exchange of his manor of Merton, in the forest of Delamere; and about 1330, Gayton passed by marriage with his heiress into the family of Glegg. William III. slept at Gayton Hall, the ancient seat of the Gleggs, in June 1689, previously to embarking for Ireland." 3 4 A few years later the aforementioned Scottish record was found and it was hear that it may have derived as a nickname from the Scottish "gleg", as in "quick of perception, keen, clever, expeditious." 5 The same source includes a quote from "Scott in the Antiquary who makes his old 'blue-gown' say:-'I was aye gleg at my duty-naebody ever catched Edie sleeping.'" 5

Early History of the Glegg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Glegg research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1622, 1636, 1655, 1656 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Glegg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Glegg Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Glegg were recorded, including Glegg, Glegge, Gelgges, Gleggs and others.

Early Notables of the Glegg family

Distinguished members of the family include

Edward Glegg (b. 1622) of Caldey Grange who purchased in 1655 and 1656 the manor of Irbie in Cheshire...
William Glegg was the founder of the Calday Grange Grammar School in Caldy Hill, Wirral, Merseyside in 1636...

Glegg migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Glegg family emigrate to North America:

Glegg Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Glegg, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Glegg (post 1700) +

Alexander Kenneth Lindsay "Alex" Glegg (b. 1971), Rhodesia-born, former Canadian cricketer, Member of Canadian National Team in 1996 and 1997
Captain John Glegg, British soldier in the 49th Regiment of Foot of the British Army who served with General Isaac Brock as one of two aides-de-camp during the War of 1812; he was in charge of funeral arrangements for Brock, who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights
Brigadier John Allen Glegg (b. 1893), British Commanding Officer 158th Brigade (1941) 7

The Glegg 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: Qui potest capere capiat
Motto Translation: Let him take who can take.

Citations +

Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. 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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Esq. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Landed Gentry; or Commoners of Great Britian and Ireland. London: Henry Colburn Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough Street, 1837, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 5) John Glegg. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Glegg/John_Allen/Great_Britain.html