Pegley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The saga of the name Pegley follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a person who worked as the pedder. Pedlars often carried his wares in a pack as he traveled throughout the countryside. But the name was originally derived from the Old English word pedder, which meant wicker worker or someone who worked with baskets from ped, a pannier or basket. 1

"In various English dialects signifies a Pedlar; but it must not be regarded as a corruption of that word; a ped, in the eastern counties, means a species of hamper without a lid, for the conveyance of fish, eggs, chicken, &c,; and the person who traffics in such small articles is therefore very properly styled a Pedder." 2

Early Origins of the Pegley family

The surname Pegley was first found in Oxfordshire where Robert Piedurs was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. Years later, William Le Pedelare was listed in Worcestershire in 1307 and Ralph le Pedeler was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 3

Early History of the Pegley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pegley research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1615, 1656, 1679 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Pegley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pegley 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 Pegley were recorded, including Pedler, Pedlar, Pedlow, Pedley, Pegler, Pedder and many more.

Early Notables of the Pegley family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pegley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pegley family to Ireland

Some of the Pegley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pegley 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:

Pegley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Joseph Pegley, aged 28, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
Maria Pegley, aged 30, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
Sarah A. Pegley, aged 7, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
George B. Pegley, aged 5, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
Frances C. Pegley, aged 2, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Pegley 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: Animo non astutia
Motto Translation: By courage, not by craft.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)