Surname Edgeworth - Meaning and Origin
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Edgeworth: What does the surname Edgeworth mean?
The last name Edgeworth is believed to have derived from an Old English phrase, “edge worth.” It is believed to have originally been used to describe someone living at the edge of a settlement. Today, it continues to be a unique and distinct surname that dates back to the Middle Ages.
The words “edge” and “worth” have related meanings. The former is a term used to describe a boundary or limit, while the latter connotes value or importance. The combination of the two words thus implies that the holder of this surname is at the boundaries of the community and holds a distinguished position of value and importance.
When looking at the Edgeworth name further, there is evidence that the family originally hailed from Ireland. Records show that the name was first used in the thirteenth century, with the name spelt Eggevers. This spelling eventually changed to Edgeworth in the eighteenth century.
Today, the name Edgeworth continues to be used primarily in Ireland and Great Britain, as well as in a few other places around the world. Those who hold the name are often proud of their traditional family name and are very keen to carry on the long-standing history and legacy of the Edgeworths.
Order DNA origin analysisEdgeworth: Where does the name Edgeworth come from?
The last name Edgeworth is most common today in England and Wales, where it is ranked within the top one thousand most common surnames. According to the Office for National Statistics in the UK, there were 886 people with the last name Edgeworth in 2018. There is also a small presence of the Edgeworth surname in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. In the US, there were just 0.0082% of people with the Edgeworth surname based on the national census in 2020.
The name itself is believed to have originated from the Old English given name Edward or the personal name Eadgar, meaning ‘wealthy spear.’ Alternatively, some believe it to mean ‘edge of the weorth’ due to its location on a border. The earliest recorded listing of the last name in the UK dates back to 1221.
The Edgeworth family is considered to be one of the top aristocratic families in Ireland, tracing its lineage back to Robert de Edgeuerd from the 1300's. The family can be found in various counties in Ireland, particularly in County Limerick where they have been connected to since the 16th century.
In addition to their presence in Europe and the United States, there is also a concentration of Edgeworths situated in India. Most of the Indians bearing this name are descended from British officers and settlers who settled in south India in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Edgeworth
The surname Edgeworth has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Edgecombe, but other spellings can include Edgeworth, Edgworth, Edgcombe, Edgcomb, and Edgecomb. Less common spellings include Egcomb, Egcombe, Edgson, Edgee, Edgees, Edgeos, Edgsonne, and Edgestone.
Edgeworth is of English origin, though it can be found all over the British Isles. The surname originates from a place name where the family once lived and worked. Place names commonly ending with “worth” or “comb” are often associated with this surname, such as Edgeworth in Gloucestershire, Edgecomb in Devon, and Edgcombe in Shropshire.
The Edgeworth family is believed to be descended from a younger branch of the de Orreby family who took their name from the place where they lived. The Edgeworth family went on to have many prominent members of British society, beginning with the first Baronet, Sir Francis Edgeworth, who was appointed in 1621.
The surname can also commonly be found in other countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. Some notable bearers of the surname include the economist Francis Edgeworth, who helped shape neo-classical economics, novelist and playwright Richard Lovell Edgeworth, and comedian Ed Edgeworth.
Famous people with the name Edgeworth
- Francis Edgeworth: Francis Ysidro Edgeworth (8 February 1845: 13 February 1926) was an Anglo-Irish philosopher and political economist. He studied mathematics and economics at Trinity College in Dublin before traveling to England to pursue a career in economics. He was a founding member of the British Economic Association and made important contributions to the field of economics including his work in utility theory, statistical theory, and risk theory.
- Miles Edgeworth: Miles Edgeworth is a fictional character in the Ace Attorney series. He is an ambitious lawyer who serves as an antagonist of the protagonist throughout the first two games. He has a very strict moral code and is not unwilling to break the law in pursuit of justice. He is often described as having sociopathic tendencies.
- Leonard Edgeworth: Leonard Robert Edgeworth (24 December 1881: 22 February 1960) was a British engineer and inventor. He has a successful business career and worked on numerous inventions, such as the Edgeworth-Euclid Corrugated Generator, the Edgeworth Gasifier, the Edgeworth Water Gas Plant, and the Edgeworth Turbine.
- Debbie Edgeworth: Debbie Edgeworth (born Deborah Ann Edgeworth, 12 October 1959) is an American actress and television producer, best known for her recurring role as Honey Hays on the television series Picket Fences. She has starred in a number of films, television movies, and made guest appearances on television shows.
- Kirby Edgeworth: Kirby Edgeworth (born 25 August 1975) is a Welsh actor. He trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and has starred in many Welsh language productions such as Y Clwb Rygbi and Pobol Y Cwm. He also appeared in the British television series The Bill before playing a regular role as the gruff police Sergeant Jack Eden in Hollyoaks.