| ![Show Contents]() Wadge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England Early Origins of the Wadge familyThe surname Wadge was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Westcott. Cornwall was a land set apart, a land of mystique and quaint customs, more strongly related to Brittany and Wales than to England. It was not until the 10th century that they submitted to the Saxon rule of England. Since then, their influence has moved east into Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Richard of Chichester (1197-1253), also known as Richard de Wych, Bishop of Chichester (1244-1253) is a saint who was canonized in 1262. A shrine was built in Chichester Cathedral dedicated to Richard and had become a centre of pilgrimage. In 1538, during the reign of Henry VIII, the shrine was plundered and destroyed by order of Thomas Cromwell. St Richard of Chichester is patron saint of Sussex since 2007, his translated saint's day of 16 June is celebrated as Sussex Day. Wych Street was a street in London, that ran west from the church of St Clement Danes on the Strand to a point towards the southern end of Drury Lane. It was demolished by the London County Council in around 1901 as part of the redevelopment that created the Kingsway and Aldwych. Early History of the Wadge familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wadge research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1384, 1385, 1386, 1390, 1393, 1554, 1593, 1607, 1621, 1628, 1632, 1643, 1659, 1661, 1676, 1678, 1681, 1682, 1685, 1689, 1692, 1693, 1695, 1699, 1702, 1705, 1707 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Wadge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wadge Spelling VariationsCornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Wadge, Watch, Wage, Wych, Wich and others. Early Notables of the Wadge familyNotable amongst the family at this time was John Wych (fl. 1384-1393), an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Hereford in 1384, 1385, 1386, 1390 and 1393; Sir Cyril Wyche PRS (1632-c.1707), an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Callington (1661-1678), for East Grinstead (1681-1685), for Saltash (1685-1689); and for Preston (1702-1705), Chief Secretary for Ireland (1676-1682) and (1692-1693)...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wadge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Wadge migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Wadge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. William Wadge, (b. 1830), aged 27, Cornish quarryman travelling aboard the ship "Herefordshire" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 27th May 1857 1
- Mrs. Mary Wadge, (b. 1832), aged 25, Cornish farm servant travelling aboard the ship "Herefordshire" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 27th May 1857 1
- Mr. Francis Wadge, (b. 1850), aged 7, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Herefordshire" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 27th May 1857 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Wadge (post 1700) | + |
- Amy Wadge (b. 1975), British songster, songwriter, and actress, winner of the "Best Female Solo Act" at the annual Welsh Music Awards in 2002
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Wadge migration to Australia 
