Heggs

Recorded in several spellings as shown below, this is an English medieval surname. It has at least two possible origins. The first is topographical and describes someone who lived by a hedge or more probably a circular defensive wall of thick thorn grown to keep cattle in and bandits out! It derives from the pre 7th century word 'hecg'. Secondly the name can be locational from a place called Heage or High Edge in the county of Derbyshire. This place was first recorded in the Charter Rolls of 1251 as 'Heyheg', in the Feudal Rolls of 1330 as Heyhegge, as Heege in 1471, and Heegge in 1485. From this it can be seen how the surname itself developed. The following examples illustrate the name development and include Robert atte Hegge in Curia Regis rolls of Derbyshire the year 1256, Richard de Hegges of Sussex in the Tax Subsidy Rolls of 1296 and Roger in the Hegg in the Subsidy Rolls of Surrey in 1327. The modern surname spellings include Hedge, Hedger, Hedges, Hedgeman, Hegg, Heggman, Heggs, Hegges and others. Amongst the early recordings in Derbyshire is the christening of one Wilinus Hedge on February 26th 1571 at All Saints church, Derby. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailmer Hegge. This was dated 1227, in the Assize Rolls of Bedfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111rd 1216 -1272. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.