Geddings History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The Scottish name Geddings 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 Geddings family

The surname Geddings 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 Geddings family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Geddings 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 Geddings History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Geddings Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Geddings family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was John Gedy , the Abbot of Arbroath in 1394, said to have been influential in creating the harbour there. 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 use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland. The act is supposed to...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Geddings Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Geddings family to Ireland

Some of the Geddings 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.

Geddings migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Geddings Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

D S Geddings, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
C.H. Geddings, aged 51, who landed in America, in 1895

Geddings Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

H. D. Geddings, who landed in America, in 1903
Clara Geddings, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Dorothy Geddings, aged 3, who settled in America from London, England, in 1908
Edna Geddings, aged 2, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1908
Irene Geddings, aged 1, who landed in America from London, England, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Geddings (post 1700) +

Rich Geddings, American actor
Lex D. Geddings, American stuntman who has worked on over 100 films

The Geddings 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.
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)