Last name: Arger

This interesting surname with variant spellings Arger, Argar, Awger, Argare, Orgar, Earger, etc., derives from the Old English given name "Ordgar" meaning "point-spear". The personal name is recorded as Orgar, Orger in the Feudal Documents from the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, London (circa 1095). The surname dates back to the late 12th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Bernard Orgar (1273) "The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire", and Geoffrey Ordgar (1226) "Rotuli littarum clausaraum". Church recordings include one Alice Awger who was christened on August 13th 1541 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, Joane Argare married Edmond Haps on May 14th 1553 at St. Pancras, Soper Lane, on October 14th 1594, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney. Alice Arger married Nicholas Finch on March 8th 1659, at St. Mary at Hill, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Orgar, which was dated 1198, the Feet of Fines of Norfolk, during the reign of King Richard 1, "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. 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.

Visitor Comments

Andy Phillips
To the Editor of this article/site: There appears to be some missing data in the middle of your Arger text. "Joane Argare married Edmond Haps on May 14th 1553 at St. Pancras, Soper Lane, on October 14th 1594, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney." "on October 14th 1594, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney" is not preceded with any person's names! I would suggest that either names are added or the "on October 14th...." text is removed.