Agilun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Agilun is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Agilun family lived in the parish "of Sainte-Marie-de-la-Haie d'Aigullon, which was granted in 1213 by Philip de Vassy to Jordan, Bishop of Bayeux, on the foundation of his abbey of Mondaye. Robert d'Aigullon and his son witness a charter of Stephen, Count of Chartres, in 1100. " 1

" 'Rogerus Aculeus,' a sub-tenant in the Exon Domesday, is believed to be the ancestor of the English house, which first became of note in the reign of Coeur de Lion. One of the first on record was Manser or Manasser de Aguillon, who obtained from the King a confirmation of his land, and died before 1194, when Godfrey de St. Martin paid £100 for license to marry Constance, his widow, 'with her inheritance.' " 2

Early Origins of the Agilun family

The surname Agilun was first found in Cumberland where they were Lords of the Manor of Aglionby from very ancient times. They were descended from Ranulph, Earl of Carlisle, Lord of Cumberland and Carlisle, who exchanged the earldom of Chester for that of Carlisle. The Earls of Chester were previously viscounts of Bessin in the department of Calvados in Normandy. The first in Cumberland about 1150 was Walter de Aguilon.

The township of Linstock in Cumberland was home to the family in later years. "A little north-eastward of Linstock is Drawdykes Castle, originally erected with the materials of the Roman wall, which crossed its site, and partially rebuilt in the seventeenth century, by John Aglionby, Esq., recorder of Carlisle, who placed on the battlements three Roman stone busts, which yet remain: this ancient seat is now a farmhouse." 3

"Walter d'Aguilon came [to Cumberland] in the train of Earl Ranulph de Meschines, and gave his name to his dwelling-place, still called the manor of Aguilon, or Aglionby. His descendants remained till 1785, when Christopher Aglionby 'died a bachelor in the flower of his age, the last of the male line of this ancient family.' "-Hutchinson's Cumberland.

Early History of the Agilun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Agilun research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1520, 1536, 1583, 1587, 1603, 1610, 1642, 1643, 1705, 1715 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Agilun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Agilun Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Agilun include Aglionby, Agglionby, Acclionby, Aclionby and others.

Early Notables of the Agilun family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Aglionby (1520-ca. 1587), English poet, educated at Eton, and elected to King's College, Cambridge, 1536, Justice of the Peace in Warwickshire, and wrote a genealogy of Queen Elizabeth and was "born at Carlisle in 1520, and educated at Eton, from whence he was elected in 1536 to a scholarship at King's College, Cambridge." 4 John Aglionby (died ca. 1610), was an eminent divine, son...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Agilun Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Agilun family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Agiluns to arrive on North American shores: Will Aglionby settled in Georgia, no date was recorded.

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)
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print