The Ledger Family Name

"I don't feel the need to have to fill shoes and live up to expectations and be worried about people judging me, but who gives a shit? I DON'T. What I'M worried about is MY personal life, my friends and family, and THAT doesn't change. And as long as that doesn't change, I don't change."  ~Heath Ledger

 

   

The Ledger Family Name

The family name LEDGER, like many others, would most likely have been taken from the first name of the original bearer's father. This was one of the ways that family names were formed, and used by the individual families to distinguish themselves within their communities. The word /legere/ in Latin means "to read", and may or may not have any bearing on the origin of the Ledger name. Since the name Ledger could indicate a scholarly or financial family background, it is entirely plausible, that the Ledger's originally received their titles and lands because of some financial service to the King. This  however, is conjecture on our part. 

The LEDGER family not only held lands and estates in both France and England, but were actively allied with other influential families.   There is some evidence to indicate that references to the family name Ledger can be found as far back as the year 1192. However, other reports document the Ledger name in ancient medieval records in Bourgogne in 1287. The Bourgogne records indicate that the name is originally French. With the Norman invasion of England, the Ledgers branched out. 

The first reference of the name Ledger in England is in medieval documents in Kent, around 1404. Once the family was established in England, Robert St. Leger was granted estates at Ulcombe and became Lord of the  Manor of Ulcombe. Eventually they moved into the new world. (date unknown)

 Some  of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: John St.  Ledger, who settled in Canada in 1841 and William St. Leger, who settled in New  Orleans in 1823. 

The Ledger family shield is a blue background with silver trellis work and a  gold stripe at the top. The BLUE represents "Strength, Truth & Loyalty"; the  frettwork or latticework represents "power of persuasion". The GOLD represents  "Generosity & Elevation of Mind". The family motto is the French phrase "Haut et  bon.", which means "high and good". 

The family  crest is a gold griffin.  Spelling variations include: St. Leger, St. Ledger, Leger, Legere, Sallinger,  Sellinger, and several others.  

All sources researched by this site indicate that Heath descends from Irish &  Scottish origins. 

 


Information on this page has been researched from a variety of places,
including the following sites:

House of Names
TraceIt.com
Fleur-de-Lis

 

 

   

 

   

Ledger Coat of Arms

Ledger Coat of Arms

 

 

Ledger Family Crest

Ledger Family Crest, Gold Griffin