St Leger Family
Encyclopedia
The St. Leger family is an old Anglo
-Irish family with Norman
and German
roots going back over a thousand years, and whose name has appeared more than a few times in history.
The surname St. Leger is recorded in several forms This name can be described as French, but is originally of Germanic origins. The name ultimately derives from the pre 7th century Old German
personal name Leodegar
composed of the elements liutr (tribe), and gari (spear). St. Leger, a 7th century martyr and bishop of Autun, contributed to the popularity of the name in France, while in Germany the name was connected with a different saint, Ludger
, an 8th century bishop of Münster.
The name was introduced into England by the Normans
after 1066, and is first recorded in the Cartulary of Battle Abbey (Kent) in the early 12th, and in Pipe Rolls 1192 (Hampshire). The surname was introduced into Ireland in the 12th century following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, where it achieved considerable status. Early examples of the surname recording include Sir Anthony de Saint Leger, Knight of the Order of the Garter who brought Ireland under the Crown. He served as Viceroy of Ireland for five terms. A plaque dedicated to Sir Anthony Saint Leger can be found in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
William Ledger and Elizabeth May were married at St. Margarets, Westminster, London, on April 25, 1595. The first recorded spelling of the family name is possibly that of Adam Leger, which was dated 1279, in the Hundred Rolls
of Cambridgeshire
, during the reign of Edward I of England
.
The English and Irish family can trace it origins back to Robertus de Villapari vel. de Sancto Leodegario (also known as Sir Robert de Saint Leger, a Norman knight who arrived as part of the Norman Conquest of 1066. His son, Ralph De St. Leger fought at the Battle of Hastings. Sir Robert had stigmata
.
Several generations of St. Legers fought in the Crusades. Lord Jean St. Leger (1160–1216) 'lived mainly on his French lands in Normandy whilst his brother Wizo cared for the lands at Fairlight in Sussex. As a result of his feudal duties, he accompanied the French King Philip August on his conquest of Normandy, placed thus in a bad position, in reprisal the English King confiscated his English lands and arrested him on reconquering Normandy. Jean was held prisoner at Corfe Castle in Dorset for many years. The Barons revolt allowed the St. Leger family to offer ransom/release aided by the English Master Templar Roger St. Leger on 30 Aug 1216. Lord of Fairlight.'
The Christian name Jean runs in the French St. Leger family. Another, Sir Jean De St. Leger, accompanied Robert, Duke of Normandy
on the First Crusade
1096. Another St. Leger rode with Philip Augustus in Palestine in 1191. A map of Jerusalem 1099–1147 during the times of the Crusades, shows a "Leger's Pool" just outside Damascus Gate
. Geoffrey De St. Leger fought with Richard I of England
in Palestine from 1186 to 1201 or 1202. He was present at the siege of Acre in 1187. Ralph St. Leger, Lord of Ulcombe also took part in the siege of Acre in 1187.. His tomb still exists in Ulcombe Church. He returned to England around 1201. As his son carried the same name there are confusions but a Ralph St. Leger was a signatory to Magna Carta
in 1215.
Another Jean St. Leger was a Benedictine
and Abbot of the Abbey of St. Wandrille, France, during the 14th century. Bishop Thomas St. Leger 1240–1320 was the Archdeacon of Kells
around 1275 and is said to have raised money for the Crusades.
Sir Thomas Saint Leger was a Knight of the Order of the Bath and Ambassador to France. He along with Louis XI and others signed the treaty of Pecquigny, ending the Hundred Years War. He married Anne Plantagenet, Duchess of Exeter. Upon Edward IV of England
's death in 1483, St. Leger was beheaded by Richard III of England
. He and Anne, who had died giving birth to their only child also named Anne, are buried in The Roos Chapel, St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Their daughter married Sir George Manners, of the family of the Duke of Rutland
. Their tomb (Sir George Manners) can be found in the Queen's private chapel in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
Another St. Leger of historical importance was Gen. Anthony St. Leger. He was born in 1731 probably in Kildare, Ireland. He was one of a group of noblemen and gentlemen who in 1778 gathered for a private dinner party in an upper room of the Red Lion Inn which stands in the market square in Doncaster. When they departed, history had been made. A horse race which was to set the pattern for classic racing throughout the world had been christened the St. Leger. The race, a sweepstake for three-year-olds, had been born two years earlier in 1776, at the suggestion of Lt. Col. (later Major-General) Anthony St. Leger and ran for the first time over a two-mile course on Cantley Common in Doncaster. The classic race, The St. Leger has been run at Doncaster ever since.
Most St Legers in the UK today descend from Sir Anthony St. Leger KG of Ulcombe in co. Kent. The Viscounts Doneraile of Doneraile Court Co. Cork, Ireland descend from Sir Anthony's first son William and the Heywards Hill branch of the family, also originally of Co. Cork, descend from his second son, Warham. Sir Anthony was married to Agnes Warham, niece and heiress of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury after whom his first two sons were named. He was a courtier and lawyer of Lincolns Inn charged by King Henry VIII to devise a policy to bring Ireland under the Crown. Sir Anthony drew up the 'grant-re-grant' policy whereby Irish chieftains would hand over their lands to Henry and be granted them back with an English title.
Sir Anthony travelled to Ireland and met each chieftain to negotiate, albeit he sought them out in their forests and mountain fastnesses with a posse of soldiers. He spent 13 months travelling through Ireland on this mission. In a letter to King Henry VIII from Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, in the far SW of Ireland he wrote: "I think none of your Grace's Deputies cam this way this hundreth yeris since". Sir Anthony managed to persuade the majority of chieftains to accept this plan but three great chieftains in the north of Ireland, O'Donnell, O'Neill and Maguire held out, sowing the historical seeds of the troubles to come. Irish historians regard him as an English gentleman and a reasonable man.
Sir Anthony St Leger served 5 terms as Lord Deputy in Ireland, and was granted Leeds Castle in Kent for his service to the King. His descendants from both Irish branches, Doneraile and Heywards Hill, are today scattered throughout the world primarily in South Africa, Australia and the USA.
Members of this ancient family now live in England, Ireland, France, South Africa, and indeed elsewhere.
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
-Irish family with Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
roots going back over a thousand years, and whose name has appeared more than a few times in history.
The surname St. Leger is recorded in several forms This name can be described as French, but is originally of Germanic origins. The name ultimately derives from the pre 7th century Old German
Old German
Old German usually refers to Old High German, but it could also refer to:*Old Low German *Altdeutsche Tracht , a dress style popular among early 19th century German radicals...
personal name Leodegar
Leodegar
Saint Leodegar or Leger, Bishop of Autun , was the great opponent of Ebroin— the mayor of the Palace of Neustria— and the leader of the faction of Austrasian great nobles in the struggles for hegemony over the waning Merovingian dynasty...
composed of the elements liutr (tribe), and gari (spear). St. Leger, a 7th century martyr and bishop of Autun, contributed to the popularity of the name in France, while in Germany the name was connected with a different saint, Ludger
Ludger
Saint Ludger was a missionary among the Frisians and Saxons, founder of Werden Abbey and first Bishop of Münster in Westphalia....
, an 8th century bishop of Münster.
The name was introduced into England by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
after 1066, and is first recorded in the Cartulary of Battle Abbey (Kent) in the early 12th, and in Pipe Rolls 1192 (Hampshire). The surname was introduced into Ireland in the 12th century following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, where it achieved considerable status. Early examples of the surname recording include Sir Anthony de Saint Leger, Knight of the Order of the Garter who brought Ireland under the Crown. He served as Viceroy of Ireland for five terms. A plaque dedicated to Sir Anthony Saint Leger can be found in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
William Ledger and Elizabeth May were married at St. Margarets, Westminster, London, on April 25, 1595. The first recorded spelling of the family name is possibly that of Adam Leger, which was dated 1279, in the Hundred Rolls
Hundred Rolls
The Hundred Rolls are a census of England and parts of what is now Wales taken in the late thirteenth century. Often considered an attempt to produce a second Domesday Book, they are named for the hundreds by which most returns were recorded....
of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, during the reign of Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
.
The English and Irish family can trace it origins back to Robertus de Villapari vel. de Sancto Leodegario (also known as Sir Robert de Saint Leger, a Norman knight who arrived as part of the Norman Conquest of 1066. His son, Ralph De St. Leger fought at the Battle of Hastings. Sir Robert had stigmata
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
.
Several generations of St. Legers fought in the Crusades. Lord Jean St. Leger (1160–1216) 'lived mainly on his French lands in Normandy whilst his brother Wizo cared for the lands at Fairlight in Sussex. As a result of his feudal duties, he accompanied the French King Philip August on his conquest of Normandy, placed thus in a bad position, in reprisal the English King confiscated his English lands and arrested him on reconquering Normandy. Jean was held prisoner at Corfe Castle in Dorset for many years. The Barons revolt allowed the St. Leger family to offer ransom/release aided by the English Master Templar Roger St. Leger on 30 Aug 1216. Lord of Fairlight.'
The Christian name Jean runs in the French St. Leger family. Another, Sir Jean De St. Leger, accompanied Robert, Duke of Normandy
Robert II, Duke of Normandy
Robert the Magnificent , also called Robert the Devil , was the Duke of Normandy from 1027 until his death. Owing to uncertainty over the numbering of the Dukes of Normandy he is usually called Robert I, but sometimes Robert II with his ancestor Rollo as Robert I...
on the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
1096. Another St. Leger rode with Philip Augustus in Palestine in 1191. A map of Jerusalem 1099–1147 during the times of the Crusades, shows a "Leger's Pool" just outside Damascus Gate
Damascus Gate
Damascus Gate is the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. It is located in the wall on the city's northwest side where the highway leads out to Nablus, and from there, in times past, to the capital of Syria, Damascus; as such, its modern English name is Damascus Gate, and its modern Hebrew...
. Geoffrey De St. Leger fought with Richard I of England
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
in Palestine from 1186 to 1201 or 1202. He was present at the siege of Acre in 1187. Ralph St. Leger, Lord of Ulcombe also took part in the siege of Acre in 1187.. His tomb still exists in Ulcombe Church. He returned to England around 1201. As his son carried the same name there are confusions but a Ralph St. Leger was a signatory to Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
in 1215.
Another Jean St. Leger was a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
and Abbot of the Abbey of St. Wandrille, France, during the 14th century. Bishop Thomas St. Leger 1240–1320 was the Archdeacon of Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
around 1275 and is said to have raised money for the Crusades.
Sir Thomas Saint Leger was a Knight of the Order of the Bath and Ambassador to France. He along with Louis XI and others signed the treaty of Pecquigny, ending the Hundred Years War. He married Anne Plantagenet, Duchess of Exeter. Upon Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
's death in 1483, St. Leger was beheaded by Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
. He and Anne, who had died giving birth to their only child also named Anne, are buried in The Roos Chapel, St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Their daughter married Sir George Manners, of the family of the Duke of Rutland
Duke of Rutland
Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....
. Their tomb (Sir George Manners) can be found in the Queen's private chapel in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
Another St. Leger of historical importance was Gen. Anthony St. Leger. He was born in 1731 probably in Kildare, Ireland. He was one of a group of noblemen and gentlemen who in 1778 gathered for a private dinner party in an upper room of the Red Lion Inn which stands in the market square in Doncaster. When they departed, history had been made. A horse race which was to set the pattern for classic racing throughout the world had been christened the St. Leger. The race, a sweepstake for three-year-olds, had been born two years earlier in 1776, at the suggestion of Lt. Col. (later Major-General) Anthony St. Leger and ran for the first time over a two-mile course on Cantley Common in Doncaster. The classic race, The St. Leger has been run at Doncaster ever since.
Most St Legers in the UK today descend from Sir Anthony St. Leger KG of Ulcombe in co. Kent. The Viscounts Doneraile of Doneraile Court Co. Cork, Ireland descend from Sir Anthony's first son William and the Heywards Hill branch of the family, also originally of Co. Cork, descend from his second son, Warham. Sir Anthony was married to Agnes Warham, niece and heiress of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury after whom his first two sons were named. He was a courtier and lawyer of Lincolns Inn charged by King Henry VIII to devise a policy to bring Ireland under the Crown. Sir Anthony drew up the 'grant-re-grant' policy whereby Irish chieftains would hand over their lands to Henry and be granted them back with an English title.
Sir Anthony travelled to Ireland and met each chieftain to negotiate, albeit he sought them out in their forests and mountain fastnesses with a posse of soldiers. He spent 13 months travelling through Ireland on this mission. In a letter to King Henry VIII from Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, in the far SW of Ireland he wrote: "I think none of your Grace's Deputies cam this way this hundreth yeris since". Sir Anthony managed to persuade the majority of chieftains to accept this plan but three great chieftains in the north of Ireland, O'Donnell, O'Neill and Maguire held out, sowing the historical seeds of the troubles to come. Irish historians regard him as an English gentleman and a reasonable man.
Sir Anthony St Leger served 5 terms as Lord Deputy in Ireland, and was granted Leeds Castle in Kent for his service to the King. His descendants from both Irish branches, Doneraile and Heywards Hill, are today scattered throughout the world primarily in South Africa, Australia and the USA.
Members of this ancient family now live in England, Ireland, France, South Africa, and indeed elsewhere.
St Legers in history
St Legers of notable historical interest include:- Anthony St. LegerAnthony St Leger (Lord Deputy of Ireland)Sir Anthony St Leger was Lord Deputy of Ireland during the Tudor period.The eldest son of Ralph St Leger, a gentleman of Kent and Elizabeth Haut. He was educated abroad and at the University of Cambridge. He quickly gained the favour of King Henry VIII, and in 1537 was appointed president of a...
(Lord Deputy of IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
), served as Lord Deputy in Ireland for 5 terms (not 3 as previously stated); (1496–1559) - Sir William St. LegerWilliam St Leger-Life:He was a grandson of Anthony St Leger. He took part in the Flight of the Earls in 1607, when Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, together with more than ninety of their family and followers, the chief of the Gaelic and Catholic resistance in Ireland, fled...
, President of the province of Munster in Ireland (1586–1642) - Anthony St. Leger, Soldier, British MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and founder of the St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
) (1731–1786) - Colonel Barry St. LegerBarry St. LegerBarrimore Matthew "Barry" St. Leger was a British colonel who led an invasion force during the American Revolutionary War.Barry St. Leger was baptised on May 1, 1733, in County Kildare, Ireland. He was the son of Sir John St...
(British Colonel involved in the United States Revolutionary War; 1737–1789) - Raymond St. LegerRaymond St. LegerRaymond J. St. Leger is an American mycologist, entomologist and molecular biologist who is currently a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He was the recipient of the Universities 2009 Distinguished Scholar Teacher Award. St...
, (entomologist, mycologist and college professorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
) (b. 1957) - Anthony St LegerAnthony St LegerAnthony St Leger may refer to:*Anthony St Leger *Anthony St Leger , also Member of Parliament for Grimsby and Governor of St Lucia...
, London-based architect - Sean St LedgerSean St LedgerSean Patrick St Ledger-Hall is an English-born Irish footballer who plays as a central defender for Leicester City and the Republic of Ireland national football team...
, Central Defender for Preston North End F.C.Preston North End F.C.Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... - Frederick York St Leger, founder of the Cape TimesCape TimesThe Cape Times is an English language morning newspaper owned by Independent News & Media and published in Cape Town, South Africa. The first edition of the newspaper was published on 27 March 1876 by then editor Frederick York St Leger...
- Colonel Stradford St Leger, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, CMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, Anglo-Boer War diarist and artist (1867–1935)
Source
- Moya Frenz St. Leger, St. Leger The Family and the Race, 1986 ISBN 0-85033-588-4, reprinted in 2004