Leggs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Early Origins of the Leggs family

The surname Leggs was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Leggs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leggs research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1647, 1673, 1682, 1683, 1685, 1691 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Leggs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leggs Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Legge, Legg and others.

Early Notables of the Leggs family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leggs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leggs family to Ireland

Some of the Leggs family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leggs migration to Australia +

Leggs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Leggs, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal George" in 1848 1

Leggs migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Leggs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Christopher Leggs, (b. 1836), aged 37, Cornish labourer departing on 30th June 1873 aboard the ship "Dover Castle" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 9th October 1873 2

The Leggs 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: Gaudet tentamine virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue exults in the trial.

Sources +

State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ROYAL GEORGE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848RoyalGeorge.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf