Westnedge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Westnedge was first found in Leicestershire at Osgarthorp where Sir Philip de Wasteneys, inherited lands through marriage with Hardulph's great-granddaughter, Amphelis in the latter part of the twelfth century.

The name originally known as Gastineys having derived from the district called the 'Gastinois,' lying to the south of Paris and east of Orleans in France.

"The true founder of the family was Goisfridus, described in the Lincolnshire Domesday as 'homo Roberti de Stafford,' and who held lands in Brune, Carleby, Braseburg, and possibly in Dentune, besides the Staffordshire fees at Colton, Tixall, &c. being all portions of the great De Stafford barony, which were handed down for some centuries in the De Wastineys line." 1

"Sir William and Sir Geoffrey de Wasteneys presumed to have been his grandsons-possessed these lands in 1165." 2

Second in descent from the elder brother Sir William, was Sir Philip who married the Leicestershire heiress. He was in arms against King John; and being captured at Mount Sorrel in 1216, was carried prisoner to Nottingham, and forced to surrender part of his Colton estate to John le Mareschal, "as the ransom which should open his prison door." 1