Show ContentsPadge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Padge comes from when its first bearer worked as a server or personal attendant to a Lord or nobleman. 1 Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. Occupational names have remained fairly common in the modern period. This is attested to by the continuing appearance of occupational suffixes at the end of many English surnames. Some of these suffixes include: herd, monger, maker, hewer, smith, and wright.

Early Origins of the Padge family

The surname Padge was first found in Devon where one of the first records of the name was Ralph Page who was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1230. A few years later William le Page was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1240. 2 Lambert Page was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Yorkshire. 3 And a few years late to the north, John Page was one of the Scottish prisoners taken in Dunbar Castle in 1296 and confined in Tunbridge Castle. 4 At some point, a branch of the family was established at Steeple Aston in Oxfordshire. " In a chapel on the north side of the chancel are recumbent effigies of Sir Francis Page and his lady, to whom the manor of Middle Aston formerly belonged: Sir Francis destroyed some monuments of the Dinham family to make room for his own, which was erected in his life-time." 5

Early History of the Padge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Padge research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1628, 1669, 1692, 1693, 1695, 1708, 1720, 1723, 1775 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Padge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Padge 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 Padge include Page, Paige and others.

Early Notables of the Padge family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Thomas Page of Somerset; and Colonel John Page (1628-1692), from Bedfont, Middlesex, an English merchant and settler in Middle Plantation on the Virginia Peninsula, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Council of the Virginia Colony; Gregory Page (died 1693); and his son...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Padge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Padge family to Ireland

Some of the Padge 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 Padge 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 Padge or a variant listed above: Robert Page settled in Boston with his wife and three children in 1637; Thomas Page settled in Boston with his wife and two children in 1635; Elizabeth Page settled with her husband Edward in Barbados in 1670.



  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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