HISTORY OF THE DAVIDGE NAME (Source www.surnamedb.com)

This unusual and interesting name is a dialectal diminutive form of the Hebrew male given name David, meaning 'The beloved one'. Since the very dawn of history, David has been perennially popular in honour of the biblical King David, the greatest known King of Israel, whose deeds thrilled the ancient peoples. The name was adopted by Christians throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, and specifically resulting from the Crusades to the Holy Land. However 'David' was a popular 'given' name in Britain even as early as the 6th Century, as a result of St. David (or Dewi) Bishop of Menevia, Patron Saint of Wales, and founder of the monasteries of Glastonbury, Leominster, and Raglan.

There are many modern spellings deriving from the medieval pet forms of Daui and Davy. These include the diminutives Davitt, Davydge, Davidge and the West Country Daveridge. Examples of recordings are Thomas Davit in the 1275 Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, Richard Davydge in the 1591 state papers for London, George Davidge of Norwich in 1704, and John Daveridge of Heathfield, Somerset in 1753.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Dauy, which was dated 1198, The register of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, during the reign of King Richard I, known as '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.

Our Davidge family including Ashley & Pickford

Small numbers by a name refer to personal number in listing eg SARAH ANN ² DAVIDGE ~ see 2.

I am also recording my Davidge family on Ancestry.com & WikiTree.com

GENERATION ONE :

1.~ ~ ~ WILLIAM DAVIDGE was baptized on 30 August 1800 in Orchardleigh, Somerset, England and was the son of WILLIAM DAVIDGE and ANN (surname unknown). William married ANN ASHLEY on 10 October 1826 in Laverton, Somerset. Ann was baptized on 23 October 1808 in Laverton, Somerset and was the daughter of JAMES ASHLEY and MARY (surname unknown). James was a Carpenter.

> Refer to the ASHLEY family for more information about the family of Ann.

William and Ann are recorded on the 1841 Census as living in Buckland, Denham, Somerset, and William was employed as an Agricultural Labourer. By 1851 they were living in Elm, Somerset.

Children of WILLIAM DAVIDGE and ANN ASHLEY included:

JACOB DAVIDGE, baptized 8 July 1827 in Laverton, Somerset.

MARY ANN DAVIDGE, born 1829.

SARAH ANN ² DAVIDGE, born 1832.

JOHN DAVIDGE, baptized 22 September 1833 in Laverton, Somerset.

JANE DAVIDGE, born about 1837 in Buckland, Somerset.

ELIZABETH, born about 1839 in Buckland, Somerset.

CHARLES, born about 1843 in Buckland, Somerset.

WILLIAM, born about 1844 in Buckland, Somerset.

William died in 1878 aged 77 years in Frome, Somerset.

2. ~ ~ ~ SARAH ANN DAVIDGE (WILLIAM) was born in Orchardleigh Village, Laverton, Somerset in 1832, and was the daughter of WILLIAM DAVIDGE and ANN ASHLEY. Sarah was baptized on 12 February 1832 at Laverton, Somerset, England.

Sarah married JOB PICKFORD at Frome holy Trinity Church on 31 January 1853. Job was born in Frome, Somerset and was the fifth son of WILLIAM PICKFORD and MARY ANN (surname unknown).

Census entries for SARAH ANN DAVIDGE:

Census 1:1841, Buckland, Denham, Somerset, age 9

Census 2: 1851, Elm, Somerset, unmarried, age 19

Census 3: 1891, Elm Village.

Sarah died in 1891.

> Refer to the PICKFORD family for more information about the families of Job and also for information about the children of Sarah and Job.

Please note that in keeping to genealogy publishing protocol I have not included information about later generations including living persons.

If you have a family connection please contact me for further information.

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