Show ContentsAugur History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Augur was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from a group of baptismal surnames which all mean the son of Eggar or the son of Agar. "Probably a form of Algar, a Domesday personal name, and very popular for several centuries." [1]

"Aighear signifies gladness, joy, gayety. If from the Latin ager, it denotes a field or land." [2]

In Scotland, "Aeggar was king of the Scots a. 1189." [3]

Early Origins of the Augur family

The surname Augur was first found in the counties of Yorkshire and Northumberland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

"The Agars, an old York family of the 17th and 18th centuries, gained considerable estate by trade and founded a hospital in that city. Thomas Agar, tanner, was lord mayor of York in 1618, and the same office was filled by Thomas Agar, woollen draper, in 1724. Agar is still a York name." [4]

Early History of the Augur family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Augur research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1672, 1703, 1713, 1714, 1715, 1727, 1733 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Augur History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Augur Spelling Variations

Augur has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Augur have been found, including Agar, Algar, Alger, Algore, Augar, Auger, Elger, Elgar, Eager, Eagar, Etches, Eaches and many more.

Early Notables of the Augur family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Eager, born 1782 at Norwich, where his father was a musical instrument maker and organ builder. Having learned from his father the rudiments of music, he was at twelve years old taken under the care of the Duke of Dorset, an amateur violinist, who carried him to his seat at Knole, where free access to the library enabled him to repair the defects of his early education. His patron...
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Augur Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Augur family to Ireland

Some of the Augur family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Augur migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Augurs to arrive on North American shores:

Augur Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Nicholas Augur, who landed in New Haven, Connecticut in 1643 [5]
  • Andrew Augur, who arrived in New England in 1651 [5]
  • William Augur, who landed in Massachusetts in 1659 [5]
  • Robert Augur, who arrived in Connecticut in 1668 [5]

New Zealand Augur 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:

Augur Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Augur, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836

Contemporary Notables of the name Augur (post 1700) +

  • Hezekiah Augur (1791-1858), American self-taught sculptor and inventor, perhaps best known for his bust of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Ellsworth (c. 1837); he learned his trade by carving table legs and other furniture ornaments
  • Helen Augur (b. 1969), American journalist and historical writer
  • Major General Christopher Columbus Augur (1821-1898), American military officer during the American Civil War
  • Brigadier-General Wayland Bixby Augur (1894-1982), American Commanding Officer, Combat Command B, 13th Armored Division (1944-1946) [6]
  • John Augur, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Stamford, 1820 [7]
  • George Henry Augur (1898-1953), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from North Branford, 1939-42 [7]
  • Edwin Prosper Augur (1847-1925), American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut 2nd District, 1886, 1888, 1896 [7]
  • Charles Pierson Augur (1849-1932), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Woodbridge, 1910 [7]
  • Charles Parmelee Augur (1857-1919), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Middlefield, 1911-12 [7]
  • Alfred Henry Augur (1855-1933), American Republican politician, Elected Connecticut State House of Representatives from Middlefield 1906 [7]


The Augur 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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. 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)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. 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)
  6. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Wayland Augur. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Augur/Wayland_Bixby/USA.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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