Redgrave History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Redgrave comes from when the family resided at Redgrave, a village in the county of Suffolk. Redgrave is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case the place-name was originally derived from the Old English terms red meaning reed and graf meaning ditch or grove. Therefore the original bearer of the surname Redgrave lived in an area that was near a reedy grove or ditch.

Early Origins of the Redgrave family

The surname Redgrave was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat from ancient times, as Lords of the manor of Redgrave, originally "Regrava," before the Norman Conquest by Duke William in 1066 A.D. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086 A.D. the land was held by the Abbott of St. Edmunds who may have been a member or a scion of the family. At this time Redgrave was a large village with its own church, and the Domesday classification was, twelve beasts, thirty pigs, and thirty goats.

Early History of the Redgrave family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Redgrave research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1344, 1477 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Redgrave History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Redgrave Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Redgrave has been recorded under many different variations, including Redgrove, Redgrave, Reedgrave, Reedgrove and others.

Early Notables of the Redgrave family

Distinguished members of the family include

Robert of Redgrave

Redgrave migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Redgrave or a variant listed above:

Redgrave Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Stuart Augustus Redgrave, who landed in Colorado in 1877 1

Redgrave migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Redgrave Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Redgrave, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Emily" 2
James Redgrave, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Emily" in 1849 2

Redgrave 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:

Redgrave Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Redgrave, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lorraine" in 1878
Louisa Redgrave, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lorraine" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Redgrave (post 1700) +

Dame Vanessa Redgrave CBE, DBE (b. 1937), English Academy Award, Tony award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress, daughter of Michael Redgrave
Michael Scudamore Redgrave CBE (1908-1985), English stage and film actor, director, manager and author
Samuel Redgrave (1802-1876), English writer on art, born at 9 Upper Eaton Street, Pimlico, London, eldest son of William Redgrave, and brother of Richard Redgrave
George Ellsworthy "Roy" Redgrave (1873-1922), English stage and silent film actor, progenitor of the Redgrave acting dynasty
Lynn Rachel Redgrave OBE (1943-2010), English Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actress, daughter of Michael Redgrave
Corin William Redgrave (1939-2010), English actor, son of Michael Redgrave
Richard Redgrave RA (1804-1888), English artist who declined a knighthood in 1869
William Redgrave (1903-1986), British sculptor, his major work The Event was destroyed in a 2004 warehouse fire
Sir Stephen Geoffrey Redgrave CBE (b. 1962), British five-time Olympic gold medalist rower, nine-time gold medalist World Championship rower

Citations +

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The EMILY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Emily.htm