Gage History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  France 
  Ireland 


Gage is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Gage family lived person who worked as the local assayer, who would determine weights and measures. The surname has another occupational origin which suggests that the bearer worked as a money lender, which was taken from the Old French word gage, which literally means a pledge.

Early Origins of the Gage family

The surname Gage was first found in Gaugy, Normandy where Ralph de Gaugy was listed there in 1180. Various versions of the name were listed including Gauchi, Gaugi, and Gaacy in L'Aigle, Normandy about the same time. The first record on the name in England was Warin de Gaacy (Wacy) in Bedfordshire in 1140.

A few years later, Ralph de Gauchi (Gaugi) held a fief in Northumberland by marriage in 1165 and in the same year, Robert de Gaugi was Baron of Slesmouth, again in Northumberland. The latter's brother, Roger de Gauchi was granted the ownership of Argentan Castle and Forest by King John in 1203. 1

The parish of Alciston in Sussex was another ancient family seat. "This manor was given, with others, to Battle Abbey by the Conqueror, whose grant was confirmed by Henry I.: on the surrender of the abbey, in 1539, the king became seised of the lordship, and gave it to Sir John Gage and Philippa his wife, to hold in capite by knight's service. Alciston Place was occupied by an ancestor of the present Lord Gage in 1585." 2

At one time, Burstow, Surrey was another stronghold of the family. "Burstow-Court Lodge became, in the 15th century, the property of the Gages, of whom was Sir John Gage, K. G., a distinguished military officer in the reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward VI.; the family sold the property in 1613." 2

Early History of the Gage family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gage research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1269, 1479, 1556, 1596, 1621, 1633, 1642, 1654, 1656, 1660, 1682, 1691, 1695, 1699, 1700, 1702, 1722, 1744, 1754 and 1934 are included under the topic Early Gage History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gage Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Gage, Gauge and others.

Early Notables of the Gage family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Gage Ranking

In the United States, the name Gage is the 1,869th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Gage family to Ireland

Some of the Gage family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gage migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Gage or a variant listed above:

Gage Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Gage Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Gage Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gage migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gage Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Gage migration to Australia +

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

Gage Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Gage 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:

Gage Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Gage (post 1700) +


The Gage 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: Courage sans peur
Motto Translation: Courage without fear.


Suggested Readings for the name Gage +
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