Origins of the Page Surname

From The Dictionary of the Ancestral Heads of the New England Families 1620-1700, by Frank R. Holmes, we learn that Page was an occupational name given to youths of the gentry class between seven and fourteen years of age while receiving their education in the social graces to become a squire and then a knight.

The origin of the word Page is supposed to be Italian for Paggie or from the Latin Pagius, meaning a boy or youth attending the king. Boys of noble parentage who were at the royal court were called Pages. It was quite an honor much sought after by the nobility, as the surroundings and the acquaintances made at court were valuable to personal advancement. A course of training in courtesy, etiquette, and diplomacy was given these boys, and the place where they lived and trained was called a Page Home, shortened to Pageham, also sometimes written Pagham or Pagenham. Different spellings are attributed to the fact that few people could read or write. Members of the nobility hired a scribe to perform these services for them and signed their papers with a signet ring or stamp which bore their crest or insignia (coat-of-arms). This was another important reason for heraldry and coats-of-arms.1 Another interesting possible source of the Kentish Page family name may come from the old word Pa-age or passage money; a tax anciently levied on travelers bound for the crusades at the bridge over the Medway at Rochester, in county Kent.2

 

Coats-of-Arms and Family Crests

Coats-of-arms, were and still are, bestowed by proper authority (In England, by the Garter King of Arms in the College of Arms in London) only to individuals and their legitimate heirs. The use and abuse of coats-of-arms in England were becoming widespread by the thirteenth century. One of the duties of the King of Arms conferred after the Battle of Agincourt upon Sir William Bruges, the first Garter King of Arms (1415-50) was to survey and record the coats-of-arms and pedigrees of those using them, and correct irregularities. The beginning of a systematic heraldic Visitations goes back to a warrant of King Henry VIII, dated 6 April 1530 to Thoms Benolte of Clarenceau. His duties while traveling throughout the kingdom were to put down or otherwise deface at his discretion those unauthorized or granted coats-of-arms on plate, jewels, paper, parchment, windows, gravestones, and monuments or elsewhere where-so-ever they may be set or placed. He was also to inquire into all those using titles such as Knight, Esquire, or Gentleman, and if such style or arms had been usurped was to denounce the offender by proclamation. He levied taxes upon all those authorized to display arms and use titles.

1 . Theda Page Brigham, Descendants of John Page (1614-1 687) (Haverhill, Mass.: Haverhill Historical Society, 1972), p. 168.

2. Archaelogical Cantiana, Vol. VI, by the Kent Archaelogical Society, 1868, p. 109.

The records made by the heralds of the Crown of England during their periodic visits (Visitations) during the 16 and 17 centuries had an immediate and practical purpose - that of checking the lawful assumption and display of arms, and of the titleEsquire, and Gentleman. The Visitations, were published by county by the Harlean Society, and are available for public research in some libraries. Individual Coats-of­Arms were published by Sir Bernard Burke in The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. As far as I have been able to determine, only two of the Page Family Lines (F & G) were granted and used individual coats of arms:

            

 

The colors of Col. John Page’s arms are unknown. The arms of Edmund Page of London from the Visitation of Middlesex, 1663, as illustrated by Rick Bentley Page. He shows the cadency mark of a martin which was used for the fourth son --- for George Page of Rochester, County Kent, England.

 

Family Crests

The Family Crest originated in the Age of Chivalry as a means of identification of the warrior classes. The crest is the device displayed on top of the helmet used in a coat-of-arms. Family crests were also granted by proper authority to families, and were widely used by all family members and relatives with the same surname. The bset published source of of Family Crests is James Fairbairn’s Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland. The Crest shown in Col. John Page’s line is a demi-horse, per pale, dancetteç or (gold) and azure (blue). The Kentish Pages were granted a demi-griffin, ermine, beaked and legged, gules (red).

                                                                                            


A PAGE Signet Ring

                                                                                                                                         

 


                                                                                               

 

 

 

This ring is an 18th century signet ring, made for leaving a stamped impression of the Kentish Pages in melted wax on documents. It is a complete reversal of the normal coat-of-arms given to members of the author’s family back in county Kent, England, in the 1600s.  It is a Griffin (or Griffon) crest on top with three (Doves?) on a bend. The blazened description is as follows: Argent, on a bend sable three doves of the first, beaked and legged gules. Where Argent = silver; bend = diagonal strip; sable = black; gules = red.

"Tammy Wellbeloved" <tammyw@mweb.co.za> who sent the photo wrote in January 2009:
“My father-in-law (who's Grandfather is the Page whom I'm researching) still has the Page Seal ring that his Grandfather gave to him (which he says was handed down from father to son since who knows when).”

 

“Captain Daniel Page who joined the British Army in the West Indies before coming out to South Africa. I haven't been able to find a birth date for him or information on whom his parents may be. Daniel Page, born (probably in England) circa 1784; d.13.04.1833 in Graaff Reinette South Africa. Married to Judith Israel (09.06.1811 in Jamaica, West Indies), born circa August 1788 Barbados, West Indies, d.15.02.1850 in Cape Town South Africa. [Note: None if these events are in the I.G.I.; but a Daniel Page, b.c. 1784, m. an Elizabeth Aries on 21 Mar 1809 in Hillingdon, London, England.]

 

“I have had a researcher check for Daniel Page's regimental records in the UK, but sadly they were not in the archives-I've no idea what could have happened to them. We have had information that this Page was of the Jewish religion but had to convert when he got to South Africa as there weren't any Rabbi's here at the time.”

“He says there was also a story told to him about a curse on the family. They were given land by one of the Henrys in England, on the land was a monastry or something and they chased them away but not before the monks or nuns cursed them. The curse was that no male heir would inherit the ground - and they never did! He was told that the land incorporates the area of Lords Cricket ground and Madame Toussades. Interesting stuff.”

Click to see the results of:

 PAGE Y-DNA TESTING

PAGE Y-DNA Family Line Associations

Family Line A: Descended from Jeremiah Page, b. c. 1730 (possibly co. Norfolk, Eng.) immigrated c. 1750 to New London, CT, then to Columbus, Chenango Co., NY.

Jeremiah m. "Polly" Eames/Ames c. 1759 in Norwich, CT,

Family Line B:

Family Line C: Associated with most distant probable ancestor who was Thomas Page, bc.1650, England and immigrated to Isle of Wight, VA around 1680. Thomas Page m. Alis (Alice?) Garrett. In some of the older Quaker records in Isle of Wight, VA, it is spelled Yarrett.

At least three are descended from Abraham Page, b.c.  1716, possibly in co. Suffolk, Eng., m. a Mary and was in Wayne Co, N.C. just before 1740.                                 

Family Line D: Associated with the immigrant John Page of Haverhill, MA who immigrated in 1635. He was the son of Thomas & Johan Baker who were m. Sept. 14, 1607 in Rattlesden, co., Suffolk, Eng.. John was supposedly b. inWorlingham, co. Norfolk, Eng.

One has traced ancestry back to Thomas Page of Walpole, MA, who m. Sarah Robbins of Walpole.

Family Line E: Descended from or associated with immigrant ancestor (or relative) John & Phoebe (Payne) Page who arrived in Boston in 1630 from Boxted, co. Essex, Eng.. Some are descended from Dr. John Page of Farmingham, Sutton Co., MA who m. in 1712 Susannah Lealand/Leland (b. 19 Dec. 1690) in Sherborn, Middlesex Co., MA. Dr. John Page's relationship to the immigrant John Page in 1630 remains unknown.

Family Line F: Descended from Col. John Page, Gent. of co. Middlesex, Eng. Who arrice c. 1650 and lived in Williamsburg, VA.

Family Line G: Except for 3971 descended from George & Sarah (Linsley) Page, Gent. of Branford, CT. He arrived c. 1662 from Shorne, co. Kent, Eng..  Also the daughtered-out line of Thomas and Elizabeth (Felkin) Page of Mark Lane, London, and Saco, ME who d. there in 1645.

Family Line H: Three share a common Page ancestor with Samuel Page (b. c. 1770) of Smithville, Canada, in the early 1800s. He m. Hannah Cornell. One who arrived in 1966 has traced his ancestry back to Edmund Page in the early 1600s in the area of Alverstoke, co. Hampshire, Eng. Descendants of John Page (1750 - 1803) b: Bet. 1750 - 1756 d: Bet. July 28, 1803 - March 07, 1804 in Union Co, Laurens District, SC .... +Anna (Hannah) 1756 - 1832 b: Bet. 1756 - 1759 d: Aft. July 1832 in Bibb Co, Alabama

Anthony Brian Treacher* traces his ancestry back to William Page, b. 1778 of Fulmodeston, Co. Norfolk, UK.

Family Line I: One member descended from Joshua Page, b. 1780, of Rotherhithe, Eng.. KJP descends from Edward Page, b. c. 1786 Maidstone, Kent. He married Catherine Stanford on 8 Jan 1815 at St Margaret, Rochester, Kent.

Family Line J: Associated with the line of Joseph Page of Monmouth, NJ, which is NOT part of the line of Robert Page of Ormsby St. Margarets, co. Norfolk, Eng. who arrived in 1637. His grandson, John, b. Nov. 15, 1672 went to Cape May, NJ; but died young..

# 60850 traces his ancestry to George Page, b. 1795 in Wingfield, co. Suffolk, close to the border with co. Norfolk, Eng.

Family Line K: RHP of Auckland, New Zealand, is descended from Robert Page, b. 1800, Great Yarmouth, co. Norfolk, Eng.

RGWP's ancestors came from West Ham, London <Canning Town district>, Eng. back to 1803. PIP's ancestor is Richard Page, d. 31 May 1639 a yeoman fromWalsham le Willows, co. Suffolk, Eng.

Family Line L: He was descended from Robert Page of Ormsby: Robert; Robert; Thomas; John; Joseph; Jonathan b1738 looks excellent to be my Jonathan1 as he would have been 28 at the birth of my Jonathan2 in 1766 in NC. Jonathan b1738 apparently born in NJ.

Family Line M: Descended from Raymond Page who came to Quebec from France in 1637.

Family Line N: A 4th generation Londoner that immigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1980. His Page ancestors originate from around Stevenage, co. Hertfordshire, Eng., to as far back as 1704.

Family Line O: Traces his ancestry to John Page, b. c. 1724 (possibly in Philadelphia) who m. Ann Lownes. John's father was George Page of Philadelphia.

Family Line P: Descended from Exolheath (Axelheath) (Axcell Heath) Page of Goochland Co., VA, (d. 1780) or his close relative (brother or uncle) - 1754-1775. Clifford Edward Paige is descended from Nathanial Page/Paige with his wife Joanna immigrated to Mass. c. 1675 and lived in Hardwick, MA.

Contacts and References


DNA & Genealogy: Collen Fitzpatrick and Andrew Yeiser, DNA and Genealogy (Fountain Valley, Calif.: Rice Brook Press, 2005)

 

PAGE Families:

ANY AND All Page Lines: George W. Page

Virginia Page Tax & Census Records: Dolores C. Rutherford

Dolores C. Rutherford, The PAGE Family in Virginia Census (1790 to 1850)

Carolina Pages: Robert E. Page, III

 

Family Line A: Frederick Lee Page

 

Family Line C: John Buford Page

                            Robert E. Page, III

                            Christopher Page

Family Line D: Sandra Ault

Lynn M. Case & Page Sanderson, The Family of John Page of Haverhill, Mass. A Comprehensive Genealogy From 1614 to 1977

 

Family Line E: Brenda Page Hare [Descended from Dr. John Page]

                            Ruthanne Page  [Canadian Page Research] 

George Andrews Moriarty, Genealogical Research in England - PAGE, NEHGR Vol. 101, July 1947, pp. 242-245, and, G. Andrews Moriarty, The Page Family of Danvers, Mass. NEHGR Vol. 105, Jan. 1951, pp. 25-32;

Charles Nash Page, History and Genealogy of the Page Family, 1257-1911 (Des Moines, Iowa by the author) Available in reprint form from Higginson Books Co.;

 

Ethel McLaughlin Turner, Paul Boynton, Lucia Kate Page Sayre, Wisconsin Page Pioneers and Kinsfolk (Waterloo, WI: Artcraft Press, 1953);

Lemuel J. Page, Genealogical Registers of the Ancestors and Descendants of the Following Persons: Lemuel Page and Polly Paige ...with brief accounts of them and their Ancestors (Boston: 1887, Reprinted by Higginson Books).

 

Family Line F: William Eugene “Gene” Page, IV

                           Cecil Wray Page    [The Page-Nelson Society]

R.C.M. Page, Genealogy of the Page Family in Virginia;

The Page-Nelson Society, P.O. Box358, Warrenton,Virginia, 20188

 

Family Line G: George W. Page [Currently writing a CD-ROM book about the History of the Descendants of George and Sarah (Linley) Page of Branford, CT to be available in 2009.

George W. Page, Robart Page of the King’s House - The Probable English Origins, Ancestors, and Relatives of George Page of Branford Connecticut and Thomas Page of Saco in the Province of Maine (Portsmouth, NH: Center For Graphic Communications, 1992)

 

John Leroy Page, PAGE-EKSTROM GENEALOGY, Nathaniel & Joanna Paige, A Colonial Massachusetts Family (Bettendorf, Iowa: John Leroy Page, 1985 LLCC # 85-73073)  Rev. Shawn Page

 

Family Line H: Ron Page

                            Thomas Page Mericle

                            Ruthanne Page 

 

Family Line I: Kennet James Page c/o Barbara Stewart

Family Line J:

Family Line K:

Family Line L: Dick Hamly

http://www.familyorigins.com/users/m/i/t/Randall--Mitton/FAMO1-0001/d668.htm

http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/history/probate/robertpage1679.htm

 

Family Line M: Nycole Page

Family Line N:

Family Line O:

 

Family Line P: Art Klinger

                            Waverly Williams

Donald W. Page, The History and Genealogy of the Robert and Rachel Page Family (1750-1827) (Franklin, NC: Genealogical Publishing Service, 1992)

Daniel E. Page, Some Descendants of Exolheath Page of Goochland Co., VA and some possible relatives (Akroma, OK: By the author, 2004).

Lemuel J. Page, Genealogical Registers of the Ancestors and Descendants of the Following Persons: Lemuel Page and Polly Paige ...with brief accounts of them and their Ancestors (Boston: 1887, Reprinted by Higginson Books).

John Leroy Page, PAGE-EKSTROM GENEALOGY, Nathaniel & Joanna Paige, A Colonial Massachusetts Family (Bettendorf, Iowa: John Leroy Page, 1985 LLCC # 85-73073)

RETURN TO TOP