Edgin

Recorded as Edgeon, Edghinn, Edgin, Edging, Edgyn, and others, this is an English surname of pre 12th century origins. It is probably locational and may be from the village of Edginswell, near the town of Torquay in South Devon, or possibly from a now 'lost' medieval village. An estimated five thousand English surnames originate from 'lost' villages, and more are discovered from time to time. The meaning of the place name and hence the surname is not certain, but Edge is a regular prefix which means literally 'a place on the edge' of a bank, valley or ravine. To this was added the suffix -in, -on, or -yn, which could give a meaning of 'Little Edge'. After the Romans left the British Isles from 412 a.d., everywhere sank into what was rightly called 'The Dark Ages' which went through until about the 13th century following the invasions by the Anglo-Saxon's from Germany, the Vikings from Scandanavia, and the Normans from Normandy in 1066. We have not been able to establish recordings from the pre 16th century but this name became a regular in the church registers of the city of London from the time of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England, who regeined 558 - 1603. These recordings include Isabell Edgin, the daughter of Robert and Margaret Edgin, who was christened at St Botolphs in Aldgate, on March 1st 1641, and earlier William Edgyn, whose son Edward was christened at the same church on March 23rd 1605. This was in the second year of the reign of King James 1st of England and 6th of Scotland, 1603 - 1625.