Show ContentsHedgerley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hedgerley family

The surname Hedgerley was first found in Cheshire at Edgerley, a civil parish and township in the parish of Alford, union of Great Boughton, Lower division of the hundred of Broxton. 1

The first record of the surname was found in the year 1189 when Albert de Edgardle held estates in that shire. Hugh Eggerley was listed at Oxford in 1440. 2

Early History of the Hedgerley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hedgerley research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Hedgerley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hedgerley Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hedgerley has appeared include Edgerley, Edgelly, Edgely, Egerley, Egelly, Egely, Edgeley, Hedgely, Hedgerly and many more.

Early Notables of the Hedgerley family

More information is included under the topic Early Hedgerley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hedgerley family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hedgerley arrived in North America very early: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.



  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. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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