Surname Pedigrew - Meaning and Origin
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Pedigrew: What does the surname Pedigrew mean?
Pedigrew is an Anglo-Saxon surname that has both English and Scottish roots. The name is thought to have originated in Cornwall, England. It is derived from the name "Peder" which is a variant of the name "Peter" and the suffix "-grew" which means "branch" in Old English. Hence the literal translation of the name is "branch of Peter". The name is often suggested to mean "son of Piers" as well. The name started as a patronymic name, indicating the son of Peter. Over the centuries, it evolved into a surname or family name. It is worth noting that the spelling of surnames has changed over centuries due to illiteracy and the evolution of languages, and Pedigrew is no exception with various recorded versions like "Pedrick", "Petegree", and "Pettegree".
Order DNA origin analysisPedigrew: Where does the name Pedigrew come from?
The last name Pedigrew is believed to have originated in Scotland, from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Pedig, itself derived from the Old English name Padi. In Scotland, the last name Pedigrew is quite common and has been around for centuries.
Although the name is not widely used in other parts of the world, there are still plenty of Pedigrew families to be found in Britain, particularly in the northwest. The Pedigrew name is also common in Canada, where many Scot-Irish immigrants settled. In the United States, the Pedigrew surname can be found in several states, most notably Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina.
The first Pedigrew immigrants to America arrived in 1653. These were mostly Huguenots who had emigrated from England to the New World. Other immigrants from Scotland and England followed in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Pedigrew surname became more widely dispersed as many of the immigrants left the original British settlements and moved westward.
The Pedigrew surname continues to be passed down through generations of families of Scottish and Canadian descent. Those who bear the Pedigrew name either still live in the areas in which their forebears settled, or can be found around the world, their family roots extending back to the British Isles.
Variations of the surname Pedigrew
The surname Pedigrew can be found with various spellings and variations, including Peddigrew, Peddigree, Peddigree, Pedigree, Peddigrew, Pedigrew, Peddigro, Peddigreu, Peddigro, and Peddigrow. These various spellings are found throughout the English-speaking world and are particularly common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where the surname originated several centuries ago.
The origin of the surname is believed to refer to the ancient practice of animal husbandry. It is thought to derive from the Old English elements "pet," or "ped," meaning "herd animal," and "gry," meaning "wheel," or "grindstone," suggesting a person who was skilled as an animal herder.
The surname Pedigrew is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Scottish and Irish surnames O'Peigre, O Peigre, O'Peigro, O'Peigeoir, O'Peigred, and O'Peiggre, which originate from the Gaelic elements "pi," meaning "son," and "agraidh," meaning "shepherd.”
The surname is also found in a variant spelling, O Pagerty, which is a Gaelic Anglicisation of an Irish-Gaelic name, possibly based on the Irish word "pairtigh," meaning "ploughman," or "tiller of the soil."
Other variants of the surname include Pedrick, Pettigree, Pettigrew, Pettigroo, Peddie, Pettygrew, Pettygrue, Pettigru, Pettygroe, and Pettygroo.
In Scotland, the surname can also be found in the form Pedderrick or Pedderick, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Padarig," an ancient form of Patrick.
In conclusion, the surname Pedigrew is an English variation of an ancient Gaelic-Irish name, and can be spelt in various ways, with regional variations.
Famous people with the name Pedigrew
- James Christopher Pedigrew: American diplomat who served as the Chairman of the United States Delegation to the 32nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (1977–1978) and the 34th Session (1979–1980).
- Nicholas Pedigrew: Former player of the American football and rugby team, the Queensland Reds, and winner of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
- Andrew Pedigrew: Welsh professional rugby union player who played for the Ospreys and the Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pro12.
- Jennifer Pedigrew: American professional surfer who has competed in various world Championship Tour events.
- Lewis Pedigrew: Formerly known as "The Great Pedigrew", he was a professional wrestler from the United Kingdom.
- Charles Pedigrew: 19th century American politician who served as the Governor of South Carolina from 1876 to 1878.
- Gordon Pedigrew: Scottish professional footballer who spent his entire career in the Scottish first division.
- Brian Pedigrew: American football player who played for multiple teams in the NFL from 1979 to 1988, primarily for the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Samantha Pedigrew: Emmy Award-winning television producer and showrunner, best known for her work on the series “Lost” and “Frasier”.
- Angus Pedigrew: New Zealand Navy Commodore who served in both World Wars.