Haggerston

This interesting surname is of English locational origin, from one of two places named Haggerston. The Haggerston, in Middlesex is recorded as "Hergotestane" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and translates as "Heregod's stone", with Heregod being possibly an old English pre 7th century baptismal name. The second Haggerston, this time in the county of Northumberland is recorded as "Agardeston" in the Pipe Rolls of the county for the year 1196. In this case the first element is probably French and derived from the word "hagard" meaning wild or strange. The seal of Hugo de Hagarstn is appended to a charter of the lands of Balesdom to the monks of St. Cuthbert of Durham, in the 13th century. Examples of the name recording in surviving church registers include: on February 16th 1595, Robert Haggerstone, who was christened at Holy Island, Northumberland, and Jeane Haggerstone, the daughter of Nicholas Haggerstone, who was christened on November 10th 1611, at St. John's, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Elizabeth Haggerston, who married Edward Harrison, on July 25th 1574, at Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland. This was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603.