Madge

Recorded in many forms as shown below, this surname is of early medieval English origin. It is derived from the Middle English female given name "Magge", itself a diminutive form of Margerie, the usual English form of the pre 9th century Old French name "Marguerite". The French name was adopted from the Roman personal name "Margarita", meaning pearly, and thought to be from a vocabulary word of Persian origin. It was also borne by several early female Christian martyrs and saints, which guaranteed its popularity throughout Europe. The English diminutive form as Magge is recorded in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, whilst Magge Flie is listed in the Hundred Rolls of landowners of Cambridgeshire in 1273. Surnames deriving from Margery include Madge, Magg, Megg, diminutives such as Madgin, Madgett, Meggett, Meggitt and Meggat, and patronymics including Maggs, Magson, and Megson. Early exampkles of the surname recordings in church registers include the christening of John Madge, on March 18th 1579, at Westleigh by Bideford, and the marriage of Elizabeth Madgin and Laurance Harvey at Thornbury near Bristol, on November 12th 1600. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ailmundus Magge. This was dated 1200, in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.