Wedgbrow

A transposed variant spelling of the Olde English pre 10th century 'Edgeworth' - a locational name originally found in the villages of the same name in Gloucester and Lancashire. The name means 'one who lives on the edge of the wood', and there are several alternative spellings all directly or indirectly affected by local dialects and spellings. The original spelling was Eggyword, to Edgewurthe (C. 1400) to Wedgeworth (C.1600) to Wedgbrough (C.1700). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Peter de Eggeworth which was dated 1272 the Gloucester Pipe Rolls during the reign of King Edward 1 The Hammer of the Scots 1272 - 1307 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.