Sedgebeer

This unusual and interesting name is of west county origin, and is an example of a not uncommon phenomenon, the 'lost' village or hamlet, where the placename is no longer recorded on the maps but remains in the form of a locational surname. Many villages were forcibly 'cleared' in the 14th Century to make way for the all-important sheep pastures, and the former inhabitants dispersed villages could also be deserted through natural causes; disease, such as the 'Black Death' of 1348, and by accidents of war. 'Sedgebeer', also found today spelt as 'Sedgbeer and 'Sedgebear', means 'Secg's grove', from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name 'Secg', 'warrior', plus 'bearn', grove, or wood. 'Jane', daughter of 'John and Sarah Sedgebeer' was christened at Newland, Gloucester on the 7th of November 1814. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Sarah Sadgbeer, christened, which was dated 23rd November 1718, Tiverton, Devonshire, during the reign of King George I, The First Hanoverian, 1714 - 1727. 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.