Show ContentsNudegate History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Nudegate is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the settlement of Newdigate in the county of Surrey. The surname Nudegate belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Nudegate family

The surname Nudegate was first found in Surrey at Newdigate, a village and civil parish in the Mole Valley which dates back to 1167 where it was listed as Niudegate and literally meant "gate by the new wood" from the Old English words niwe + wudu + geat. 1

Early History of the Nudegate family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nudegate research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1181, 1500, 1535, 1571, 1602, 1610, 1640, 1644, 1660, 1668, 1677, 1678, 1709 and 1727 are included under the topic Early Nudegate History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nudegate Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Nudegate has been spelled many different ways, including Newdegate, Niwodegate, Newdigate, Newgate and others.

Early Notables of the Nudegate family

Notables of the family at this time include Sebastian Newdigate, O.Cart., (1500-1535), the seventh child of John Newdigate, Sergeant-at-law; he was executed for treason on June 19th, 1535 for his refusal to accept Henry VIII's assumption of supremacy over the Church in England, he was beatified by the Catholic Church; Sir John Newdigate (1571-1610)...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nudegate Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Nudegate family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Nudegates to arrive in North America: John Newgate (also Newdegate) settled in Boston in 1635; Jane Newdigate, who settled in Virginia in 1664; and Nathaniel Newdigate, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1750..



The Nudegate 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: Confide recte agens
Motto Translation: Trust in fair dealing.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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