Surname St. Leger - Meaning and Origin
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St. Leger: What does the surname St. Leger mean?
The surname St. Leger is of French origin, derived from the place name Saint-Léger, which is a common location name in northern France. The place name Saint-Léger itself refers to St. Leodegar of Poitiers, a seventh-century bishop who is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. St. Leodegar (or Leger) was known for his opposition to the heresy of Monothelitism and for his defense of Pope Honorius I. However, he fell afoul of political intrigue and was mortally wounded in 679 AD. His deeds were remembered, and numerous churches and other locations were named for him in the centuries that followed. The surname St. Leger would, therefore, suggest that the originators of that surname were from a place named after this saint. This surname was carried into England and Ireland following the Norman invasion in the 11th century and has been in use since then, sometimes spelled as St. Ledger.
Order DNA origin analysisSt. Leger: Where does the name St. Leger come from?
The surname St. Leger is most commonly found today in Ireland, the UK, Canada, and the United States.
In Ireland, the surname is most commonly found in County Limerick, where it has roots in ancient Norman families. During the 1600s, St. Leger families were responsible for funding Protestant churches and monuments in the area, giving them significant notoriety in the region. Some of the oldest established families with this surname still live in Limerick to this day.
In the UK, St. Leger families were often associated with the aristocracy. They can trace their lineage back to Thomas St. Leger, a 13th-century knight, and his son, Sir William St. Leger, who was summoned to parliament in 1377. The St. Leger families were often granted estates and titles, and even today, several branches of this family are part of the British nobility.
In Canada, St. Leger families are found in the Maritime Provinces, particularly in New Brunswick. Many are descendants of Charles St. Leger, who was a loyalist during the American Revolutionary War. After the war, he received a grant of land in New Brunswick, where he and other St. Leger families settled.
The largest population of St. Leger families outside of Europe, however, can be found in the United States. Many moved to America during the 19th century in search of opportunity. To this day, St. Legers are found across the United States, from California to Maine and in cities such as Boston, Chicago, and New York City.
Variations of the surname St. Leger
The St. Leger surname has several variants and spellings, depending on the language and nation. In France, St. Leger is also known as Saint-Legér, Leger, Léger, Legere, Legère, Legrand, Legentil, and Legendre. In Germany and the Netherlands, the surname is written as Leg(e)er. In Scotland, St. Leger is commonly known as St Ledger or Legard, while in Spain it is either Léger or Légere. In Ireland, the surname is also known as Ó Leagair, Ó Laighean, or Ó Glaighin.
When it comes to English families bearing this surname, those that originally hail from France tend to use the forms Ledger or Ledgere. English families of Scottish descent usually use the versions St Ledger or Legard, whereas Irish families sometimes modify the name to fit their own language and culture. For example, they often use the form Leeger. Similarly, when the immigrants bearing the surname have French, Dutch, or German origins, the families may alter the surname for the purpose of simplifying it for their native English listeners. As another example of a changed spelling, the German version of the surname could become Leger.
Variations of the St. Leger surname have also been known to exist among Native Americans. In fact, some United States citizens bearing the surname St. Ledger can trace seminal roots back to the Chickasaw Nation through Chief Lannigi Toatla. Regardless of its various spellings and variants, this surname has remained a vital part of families since at least the 11th century.
Famous people with the name St. Leger
- Marianne St. Leger (1774: 1854), a British artist from Lincolnshire.
- Conrad St. Leger (1883: 1959), an English writer and explorer.
- Charles St. Leger (1823: 1898), a Canadian military officer and politician.
- Stephen St. Leger, an Irish film producer.
- George St. Leger (1795: 1844), an English military officer of the British East India Company.
- Hugh St. Leger (1722: 1766), an English courtier.
- Henry St. Leger (1598: 1675), a British Anglican priest.
- John St. Leger (1727: 1802), an English politician from Lincolnshire.
- Mark St. Leger (1764: 1833), a British army general.
- John St. Leger (1868: 1927), an Irish legal historian and noted classicist.