Last name: Wrigley

This name is of Northern English locational origin from Wrigley Head near Salford, Lancashire. The first element is formed from the Olde English pre 7th Century verb 'wrigian', to bend or turn (applied here in a topographic sense), plus 'leah', a wood or clearing' hence, 'clearing by a river bend'. The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 14th Century, (see below). One Willelmus Wryglegh appeared in the 1379 'Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire'. The name is particularly well recorded in Lancashire Church Registers from the mid 16th Century. On July 10th 1544 Alice Wrigley and William Saxon were married in Middleton by Oldham and on November 10th 1588 Edmund, son of Hugh Wrigley, was christened in that parish. The marriage of Edmund Wrigley and Jane Stocke took place in Rochdale on August 28th 1664. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Wriggeley, which was dated 1327, 'The Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire', during the reign of King Edward III, 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.

Visitor Comments

Dr Ross Wrigley
Dr Ross Wrigley now resident in Beijing,China has found that in over 460 years his side of the family moved only 2 miles but from 1945 have moved across the world. This is due to his Aunt Vera and her love story of meeting Australian airforce man George Hayes and marrying him in 2 weeks. Her mother ( my grandmother) Mabel Wrigley then took the whole family to Rosewood , Queensland and beyond.

Ross wrigley
Dr Ross Wrigley has now found early history. A Wrigley was Lord of Protector of England in the 12 th century.

Maureen
As a decendent of William Saxon/ alice Wrigley I was extreamly happy to come across artical posted. Information re their children would greatly be appreciated I have listed Nicholas Saxon m Alice Stansfield? Henry Saxon m Ann Scoales Robert Saxon m Grace Pendleton 10.4.1575 children of Robert and Grace. John. Abraham. Henry. edmund. Francis. Abel I wonder if all's correct as information given to me is rather vague Have information from Joseph Saxon m Sarah Lees 1817 down to William Saxon B 1873 m Alice Jones 1895 anything would help please