Landeg

This rare and interesting surname is of habitational origin, and is believed to derive from a place in Western Prussia called Landeck, Landeg being a dialectal Anglicization of the name. The name is also found as Landecker, meaning "dweller at Landeck". The component elements of the placename are probably the Old Norse "land", estate, landed property, and the Olde English pre 7th Century "ecg", escarpment, edge, ridge, steep hill; hence, "sharply pointed ridge surrounded by flat land". Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. Recordings of the surname from English Church Registers include: the marriage of Roger Landeg and Elizabeth Baron on October 2nd 1766, at Newland, Gloucestershire; the marriage of John Landeg and Rebecca Hubbert at Holy Trinity Church, Chester, Cheshire, on June 25th 1798; and the christening of Frances, daughter of John and Agnes Landeg, on December 6th 1818, at St. James', Paddington, London. The Coat of Arms most associated with this family depicts a unicorn rampant on a shield divided per bend, black and silver, counterchanged. In Heraldry, silver signifies Peace and Sincerity and black denotes Constancy. The unicorn was prized for its Virtue and Strength. He was also associated with a haughty spirit that made him willing to die rather than be subjugated. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Landage, which was dated April 26th 1633, marriage to Hellen Parson, at St. Gregory by St. Paul, London, during the reign of King Charles 1, known as "The Martyr", 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.