Steagall - Name

This interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has two possible sources, both of which are topographical. The first is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "stigol" a steep ascent, from "stigan", to climb. The second source is from the Old English "stigel", a stile; in both cases the name was given to a person who lived near these places. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. The modern surname can be found as Styles, Style, Stile(s), Stickel and Stegel(l), and some of the genitive forms of the name are Steggals, Stiggles, Steagall, Stickel(l)s and Stickles. The genitive forms described somebody "of" an area. Recordings of the surname from the Norfolk church registers include; the marriage of John Stygall and Elizabeth Church took place on December 4th 1751, at Burgh St. Margaret; on June 28th 1778, Robert, son of Thomas and Sarah Stygall, was christened at St. Augustine, Norwich; and Elizabeth Stygall married John Smith on January 31st 1795, at Redenhall. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Reginald atte Stighel, which was dated 1227, in the Assize Rolls, Bedfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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.