Lidgate History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Lidgate was first found in Lancashire at Lydiate, a village and civil parish of Halsall, union of Ormskirk, hundred of West Derby. Now part of Mersyside, the village dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Leiate and was held by Roger of Poitou at that time. 1 "In the reign of Richard II., this place was possessed by a family of the local name, whose heiress married into the Blackburn family; and an heiress of the latter conveyed Lydiate to Thomas, son of Sir John Ireland, of the Hutt, and Hale" 2

By 1202, the place name was listed as Liddigate. Literally the place name means "place at the swing-gate," from the Old English "hlid-geat." 3 Lydiate Ash is a small hamlet in Worcestershire.

Another branch of the family was found at Lidgate a parish, in the union of Newmarket, hundred of Risbridge in Suffolk. It is difficult to determine which of the parishes came first, but "near the church is a spacious and lofty mount with some remains of extensive intrenchments, probably the site of a strong castle.

Lydgate, the poet, was born at this place, from which he took his name." 2 John Lydgate of Bury (c. 1370-1451) was a monk and prolific poet who wrote over 145,000 lines. By example, his work Troy Book was over 30,000 lines based on a translation of the 13th century Latin writer Guido delle Colonne. He was an admirer of Geoffrey Chaucer and a close friend of his son, Thomas.