Show ContentsHedgers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hedgers

What does the name Hedgers mean?

The name Hedgers is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived near a hedge or enclosure. This name belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. The surname Hedgers was originally derived from the Old English hecg, which meant hedge. 1 2

Early Origins of the Hedgers family

The surname Hedgers was first found in Kent where John de la Hegge was first listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls lists Walter de la Hegge in London. 3

Edith atte Hegge was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 4

The Assize Rolls of Bedfordshire included Ailmar Hegge in 1227 and a few years later, Robert atte Hegge was listed in the Somerset in the Assize Rolls of 1256. During the reign of King Edward I, Richard de Hegges was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296 and later, Robert del Hegges was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301. 5

"Hedges is a name that has at present its principal home in Buckinghamshire, though it also occurs in the surrounding counties of Berkshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire. Last century a family of gentry bearing this name resided at Cublington, in Buckinghamshire, and there were then others of the name in Stewkley and Whitchurch (Lips.). The name still occurs in Stewkley." 6

Early History of the Hedgers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hedgers research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1296, 1599, 1629, 1632, 1649, 1701 and 1714 are included under the topic Early Hedgers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hedgers Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hedgers are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Hedgers include: Hedge, Hedges, Hegges, Hegge and others.

Early Notables of the Hedgers family

Notables of the family at this time include Robert Hegge (1599-1629) was an English academic and antiquary from Durham; and Sir Charles Hedges (1649-1714), of Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, an English lawyer and politician, judge in Admiralty Court, one of Queen Anne's Secretaries of State. He was great-grandson of John Lacy of Wiltshire and was son of Henry...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hedgers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hedgers family to Ireland

Some of the Hedgers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 63 words (4 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 Hedgers family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hedgers or a variant listed above: Mary Hedge settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; Samuel Hedge settled in Delaware in 1675; another Samuel Hedge settled in New Jersey in 1664 with his wife Anne.



  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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