Lerigo

Although this very interesting name is clearly not of English origins, it has been recorded under several variant spellings in London since the Civil War of 1640 - 1660. The derivation would seem to be from the French heraldic name "Leriget" recorded in the Departments of Dauphine and Angou. The origination is probably from the French "ergot" meaning "spur", a nickname for a fast rider, or possibly a maker of spurs. There is probably a Huguenot association given the dates into England, but this is not clear form known existing records. By the late 17th Century there seem to have been two families in London, one spelling themselves as Lerigo and the other Lerigoe, although the latter spelling is not found after 1700. Thomas Lerigo was the father of Elizabeth, who was christened at St. James' Church, Clerkenwell on June 24th 1694, and of Thomas, christened on October 11th 1696, Hannah, on March 20th 1697, and Mary, on February 29th 1699, although, oddly she is shown as "Lerigoe". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alice Larago (as spelt), which was dated December 2nd 1643, marriage to George Mills, at St. Giles Church, Cripplegate, 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.