Glegge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Glegge is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in Cheshire at Gayton. "The Gleggs of Gayton were an ancient and distinguished family, now mostly represented amongst the gentry." 1 Black notes that "the name Glegg, Gleig, or Glyge is traditionally of French origin, but no evidence is produced in support of the statement." 2 The author continues "the first of the family of whom we have any authentic record is Adam Glyge mentioned on a tombstone in Marykirk, 1698."

Early Origins of the Glegge family

The surname Glegge was first found in Cheshire at Gayton, a township, in the parish of Heswall, union, and Lower division of the hundred, of Wirrall. "The manor was given by Edward I. to Reginald de Tibermont of Normandy, who having soon after surrendered it into the king's hands, it was granted in 1277 to the convent of Vale Royal. In 1312 the abbot gave it to Stephen de Merton in part exchange of his manor of Merton, in the forest of Delamere; and about 1330, Gayton passed by marriage with his heiress into the family of Glegg. William III. slept at Gayton Hall, the ancient seat of the Gleggs, in June 1689, previously to embarking for Ireland." 3 4 A few years later the aforementioned Scottish record was found and it was hear that it may have derived as a nickname from the Scottish "gleg", as in "quick of perception, keen, clever, expeditious." 5 The same source includes a quote from "Scott in the Antiquary who makes his old 'blue-gown' say:-'I was aye gleg at my duty-naebody ever catched Edie sleeping.'" 5

Early History of the Glegge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Glegge research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1622, 1636, 1655, 1656 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Glegge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Glegge Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Glegge family name include Glegg, Glegge, Gelgges, Gleggs and others.

Early Notables of the Glegge family

Distinguished members of the family include Edward Glegg (b. 1622) of Caldey Grange who purchased in 1655 and 1656 the manor of Irbie in Cheshire. William Glegg was the founder of...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Glegge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Glegge family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Glegge surname or a spelling variation of the name include: John Clegg who settled at Pennaquid, Maine in the year 1687; and Thomas Clegg, his son, was recorded later. Alfred, David, Edward, Francis, George, Henry, Isaac, James, Joseph, Nathaniel, Robert, Samuel, and Thomas Clegg, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1820 and 1869.

The Glegge 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: Qui potest capere capiat
Motto Translation: Let him take who can take.

Citations +

Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Esq. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Landed Gentry; or Commoners of Great Britian and Ireland. London: Henry Colburn Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough Street, 1837, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.