Gedde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The Scottish name Gedde is thought to be a habitational name, taken on from a place name in the county of Nairn. The place name Geddes is thought to have come from a Gaelic term for a mountain ridge. It has also been suggested that the surname was a patronymic created from the personal name Geddie, of uncertain origin, but which may come from a Scots dialect word "gedd," meaning "pike."

Early Origins of the Gedde family

The surname Gedde was first found in Nairnshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Narann) in northern Scotland, today part of the Council Area of Highland where they held the lands of Geddes, formerly held by the Rose family. Further south the Gedding variant were first found in the parish of Gedding in Suffolk. "This place, which comprises about 580 acres, was the property of Sir John Gedding, who resided in the manorhouse of Gedding Hall, and died about the 21st of the reign of Edward I." 1

Early History of the Gedde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gedde research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1394, 1406, 1470, 1558, 1590, 1597, 1600, 1650, 1660, 1694, 1713, 1737, 1739, 1799, 1802 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gedde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gedde Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Geddes, Geddas, Geddis, Gedes, Geddeis, Geddy and many more.

Early Notables of the Gedde family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

According to Edinburgh tradition, Jenny Geddes (c.1600-c. 1660), a Scottish market-trader is said to have thrown a stool at the head of the minister in St Giles' Cathedral in objection to the first us...
Michael Geddes LL.D. (1650?-1713) was a Scottish clergyman of the Church of England and historian. John Geddes (1739-1799) was a Roman Catholic Bishop in Edinburgh, while his brother Bishop Alexand Ge...
William Geddes (1600?-1694), was a Scottish Presbyterian divine and author and a native of Moray. 2

Migration of the Gedde family to Ireland

Some of the Gedde family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gedde family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Geddes, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1789; John Geddes settled in South Carolina in 1822; Donald Geddes settled in New York in 1817; James Geddes settled in Baltimore in 1823. In Newfoundland, John settled in St. John's in 1843.

The Gedde 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: Capta majora
Motto Translation: Seek greater things.

Citations +

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