Show ContentsRodgyll History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Rodgyll family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Staffordshire. Their name, however, is a reference to Rugles, a village in the department of Eure, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name Ruggles is of the same derivation and shares its coat of arms with the Rudgely family.

Early Origins of the Rodgyll family

The surname Rodgyll was first found in Staffordshire at Rugeley, a historic market town and parish that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Rugelie 1 and literally meant "woodland clearing on or near a ridge" having derived from the Old English "hrycg" + "leah." 2 At that time, the lands were shown to be the King's lands and consisted of a mill and a village. Over the years the town has also been historically known as Rudgeley or Ridgeley. The manor of Rugeley was granted by Henry VIII to William, first Lord Paget, ancestor of the Marquess of Anglesey, the present lord of the manor. 3

Early History of the Rodgyll family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodgyll research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1413, 1449, 1637 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Rodgyll History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodgyll Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Rodgyll has been recorded under many different variations, including Rugeley, Rudgely, Rugelay, Rogyll, Rudgeley, Rudgelie, Rudglie, Rudgley, Ruggeley, Ruggely, Rugley, Ruggley and many more.

Early Notables of the Rodgyll family

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

Migration of the Rodgyll family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Rodgylls were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: George Rudglie who settled in Barbados in 1635.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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