Logue

This interesting and unusual name is of usually of Irish origin, and is now almost exclusively a Derry and East Donegal name, where it is the Anglicization of the Gaelic "O'Maolmhaadhog" (formerly Anglicized phonetically as Mulvogue), and derived from a personal name, with the first element "maol", meaning "blunt", and the "O", denoting "grandson" or "male descendent of". Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, revered elders, or from some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "O" (as above), or "Mac", denoting "son of". However, it is thought that this name originated in County Galway, where it has been Anglicized as "Leech", and the family were first recorded as chiefs of a district between Athenry and Athlone. However it may also be a middle English nickname for a 'big eater', in this case deriving from the French "L'ogre". Examples of recordings include Elysabeth Logge who married Richard Battersybe in London on January 18th 1584, Margaret Logue, who was christened at Derry Cathedral, Templemore, on October 13th 1654, whilst Marguerite Logue, christened at West Street French Huguenot church, London, on June 29th 1715, had earlier escaped from France. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Logue, which was dated 1337, recorded at New Ross, County Wexford, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.