Meggay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Meggay came from the name Megg, which is a pet form of the female personal name Margaret. The name Meggay is a metronymic surname, which is derived from the name of the mother, and features the common patronymic suffix -son, which was most popular in the north of England and superseded other patronymic suffixes during the 13th century. Megge was first listed in Yorkshire in 1254. 1 To the south east, John Megge was recorded in the Berkshire in 1275 and later, Robert Megges was found in the Feet of Fines for Wiltshire in 1357. 1

Early Origins of the Meggay family

The surname Meggay was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat. Commonly used surname in ancient times, Meg-son was literally the son of Meg or Margaret. The name proliferated in Oxfordshire where Johannes (John) filius Megge was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Later Adam Meggesone was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1332. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls also included: Johannes Megge, Oxfordshire; Robert Megge, Bedfordshire; and John Megge, Berkshire. 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Johannes Mekson; Robertus Megson; and Johannes Megson. 2

However, the popularity of the name diminished and by the year 1500 had become somewhat obscure. Modifications such as Meggison emerged and included others as Meggotson, and so on but the main stem of the family name moved north to Northumberland. It was here at Whalton that a " barony was conferred by the Conqueror upon Walter Fitz-William, to be held by the service of three knights' fees. It was afterwards possessed by the Fitz-Rogers, Fitz-Roberts, and others 3 in the reign of James I. was held by the crown 3 and was subsequently granted to the Meggison family. " 3

"The Megsons have contracted their name from Megginson, another name characterising this part of Yorkshire. On the tombstone of the wife of Francis Megson, who was buried in St. Olave's churchyard, York, in 1718, there is, or was, the following inscription: -

'Under this stone, crammed in a hole, does lye

The best of wives that ever man laid by.' " 4

Early History of the Meggay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meggay research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1578 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Meggay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meggay 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 Meggay family name include Megson, Meggson, Meggison, Meggeson, Megginson, Meiggs, Meggenson, Meggy and many more.

Early Notables of the Meggay family

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

Migration of the Meggay family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, 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 Meggay surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Vincent Meggs and his two sons, John and Mark settled in Weymouth Mass in 1639; George Meggs settled in Virginia in 1652; and Francis Meggs settled in Virginia in 1667..

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.