Ogdon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England

The ancestors of the name Ogdon date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence near an oak valley, or came from the place called Ogden, in West Yorkshire. The surname Ogdon derives from the Old English words ac and denu, which mean oak and valley, respectively. Other records show the surname Ogdon originating in Somerset, but became prominent in Lancashire.

Early Origins of the Ogdon family

The surname Ogdon was first found in West Yorkshire at Ogden, a small hamlet north of Halifax. Historically part of Lancashire, this hamlet was where Elias de Akeden, de Aggeden was listed the Assize Rolls of that shire in 1246. Almost one hundred years later, Richard de Okeden was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. 1

"This family name, so familiar to South Lancashire, sprang up in the neighbourhood of Crompton and [in the] parish of Rochdale." 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list John de Okedon in Yorkshire and the Assize Rolls of Lancashire of 1246-1247 list Elias de Akeden. Almost one hundred years later, the Lancashire Feet of Fines include Thomas Okeden as holding lands there in 1444. 3

Early History of the Ogdon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ogdon research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ogdon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ogdon Spelling Variations

Ogdon has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Ogdon have been found, including Ogden, Okden, Oakden, Ogdon, Odgen and others.

Early Notables of the Ogdon family

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

Ogdon migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Ogdons to arrive on North American shores:

Ogdon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Oliver W Ogdon, who arrived in Texas in 1835 4

Ogdon migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ogdon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Richard Ogdon, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 5
Mr. Richard Ogdon, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Ogdon (post 1700) +

Will Ogdon (b. 1921), American composer
John Andrew Howard Ogdon (1937-1989), English pianist and composer
John Ogdon Lant, English Osteophathc, appointed as Director of the Osteopathic Association of Great Britain in 1988

The Ogdon 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: Et si ostendo non jacto
Motto Translation: And if I show I do not boast.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. 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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html