Degoey

Apparently recorded in a number of forms including De Gogay, Degogay, Degoey, Degowe and possibly Degoete, these are "anglicised" Huguenot spellings of an original French surname. As to what this was, or whether several surnames are involved is not proven, but it is possible that the original spelling was de Gogny or de Gognies from the departements of Seine-Maritime and Nord, or possibly Gogneau or Gogneaux from Vosges. The usual English suspicion of strangers and foreigners was emphasised by the ongoing inability of church registrars to spell names correctly, and in particular to take into account any unusual dialects and accents. This ensured that the creation of "sounds like" surnames was a growth industry for many centuries, and continued even into the 20th century In the period between 1580 and 1815 an estimated hundred thousand protestants left France and at least half came to the British Isles. These unfortunate people driven from their homeland by religious persecution, were in the main, skilled artisans, and their prowess as designers and engineers were a major factors in the lead which Britain gained over the rest of the world during the Industrial Revolution from about the year 1715. Early eamples of the surname recording taken from suriving church registers of the diocese of Greater London include Jean de Gogay, whose son also called Jean, was christened at the French Church, Threadneedle Street, in the city of London on Aprril 24th 1709, and Samuel de Goete, a witness at St Lukes, Charlton, on October 19th 1839.