Ledge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Ledge is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ledge family lived in Suffolk. Their name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Loges in Calvados, Normandy.

Not all of the family emigrated to early England as we found Richard, William, Ralph, Robert de Loges, Normandy, 1180-95 listed in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. "Geroius de Logis occurs in Normandy 1050. From him descended Bigod de Loges, Baron of Aldford, Chester, and Odard de Loges, Baron of Wigton, Cumberland, temp. William I. The family also appears in Berkshire and Devon." 1

The name is also derived from the Middle English word "logge" which means "small cottage, place to rest in." By extension the variant Logge, was derived from "lytylle howse" and denoted 'dweller at the cottage', but probably often in a more technical sense, with reference to the masons' logge. The early "atte Logge" use often denoted the warden of the masons' lodge. 2

The surname also denotes "a temporary building; sometimes a more permanent one. In many instances a manor-house of small pretensions is called a Court-Lodge [from the] French loge, a lodge or cabin, particularly in Forest districts." 3

Early Origins of the Ledge family

The surname Ledge was first found in Suffolk where Adam atte Logge was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. Years later in Yorkshire, we found Johannes del Loge recorded in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

Roger de la Logge was listed in the Close Rolls, 32 Edward I (during the 32nd year of King Edward I's reign.) 4 In Somerset, William atte Logg was listed there 1 Edward III. 5

Early History of the Ledge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ledge research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1520, 1558, 1562, 1563, 1575, 1582, 1625, 1648, 1649, 1677, 1689, 1716, 1719, 1730, 1744, 1751, 1756, 1759, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1782, 1787, 1793, 1801, 1821, 1822, 1828, 1832, 1838, 1839 and 1873 are included under the topic Early Ledge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ledge Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Lodge, Loge and others.

Early Notables of the Ledge family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Lodge, Lord Mayor of London (1562-1563); and his son Thomas Lodge (c. 1558 -1625), an English dramatist and writer.William Lodge (1649-1689), was an English engraver and printmaker from Yorkshire and John Lodge (d. 1774), was an archivist, born at Holton, Lancashire, the son of Edmund Lodge, farmer. He was educated at Clapham school, Yorkshire, under Mr. Ashe, and was admitted sub-sizar of St. John's College, Cambridge on 26 June 1716 (College Admissions Register). He graduated B.A. in 1719, M.A. in 1730. He settled in Dublin previously to 1744, in which year...
Another 318 words (23 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ledge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ledge migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ledge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Ledge, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 1st October 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant