Lidge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Lidge is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Lidge family lived in Suffolk. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Loges in Calvados, Normandy.

Not all of the family emigrated to early England as we found Richard, William, Ralph, Robert de Loges, Normandy, 1180-95 listed in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. "Geroius de Logis occurs in Normandy 1050. From him descended Bigod de Loges, Baron of Aldford, Chester, and Odard de Loges, Baron of Wigton, Cumberland, temp. William I. The family also appears in Berkshire and Devon." 1

The name is also derived from the Middle English word "logge" which means "small cottage, place to rest in." By extension the variant Logge, was derived from "lytylle howse" and denoted 'dweller at the cottage', but probably often in a more technical sense, with reference to the masons' logge. The early "atte Logge" use often denoted the warden of the masons' lodge. 2

The surname also denotes "a temporary building; sometimes a more permanent one. In many instances a manor-house of small pretensions is called a Court-Lodge [from the] French loge, a lodge or cabin, particularly in Forest districts." 3

Early Origins of the Lidge family

The surname Lidge was first found in Suffolk where Adam atte Logge was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. Years later in Yorkshire, we found Johannes del Loge recorded in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

Roger de la Logge was listed in the Close Rolls, 32 Edward I (during the 32nd year of King Edward I's reign.) 4 In Somerset, William atte Logg was listed there 1 Edward III. 5

Early History of the Lidge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lidge research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1520, 1558, 1562, 1563, 1575, 1582, 1625, 1648, 1649, 1677, 1689, 1716, 1719, 1730, 1744, 1751, 1756, 1759, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1782, 1787, 1793, 1801, 1821, 1822, 1828, 1832, 1838, 1839 and 1873 are included under the topic Early Lidge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lidge Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Lodge, Loge and others.

Early Notables of the Lidge family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Lodge, Lord Mayor of London (1562-1563); and his son Thomas Lodge (c. 1558 -1625), an English dramatist and writer.William Lodge (1649-1689), was an English engraver and printmaker from Yorkshire and John Lodge (d. 1774), was an archivist, born at Holton, Lancashire, the son of Edmund Lodge, farmer. He was educated at Clapham school, Yorkshire, under Mr. Ashe, and was admitted sub-sizar of St. John's College, Cambridge on 26 June 1716 (College Admissions Register). He graduated B.A. in 1719, M.A. in 1730. He settled in Dublin previously to 1744, in which year...
Another 318 words (23 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lidge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lidge family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Lidge or a variant listed above: George Lodge settled in Virginia in 1638; Henry Lodge settled in Jamaica in 1686; Adam, Charles, Frank, George, James, John, Richard and Thomas Lodge, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
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.