St. Leger

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For the horse race, see St. Leger Stakes. For the saint, see Leodegar.

The St. Leger (pronounced saint ledger or sellinger) 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.

According to www.surnamedb.com website and other sources, the surname St. Leger has been recorded in several forms including the famous Anglo-French and Norman-Irish St. Leger, St. Ledger, and Leger, and the concentrated Irish spellings of Sallinger, Sallenger, and Sellinger. The St. can be dropped altogether. "St." is an abbreviation of Saint, and the whole name is an anglicized version of "de Sancto Leodegario". Branches of the family have dropped the Saint part of the name, some partly for religious reasons during the reformation as the name is perceived as strongly Catholic.

This name can be described as French, but is originally of Germanic origins. The name ultimately derives from the pre 7th century Olde German personal name Leodegar composed of the elements "liutr" meaning tribe, plus "gari", a spear. St. Leger, a 7th century martyr and bishop of Autun, contributed to the popularity of the name in France, whilst in Germany the name was connected with a different saint, an 8th Century bishop of Munster. The name was introduced into England by the Normans after 1066, and is first recorded (without surname) in the 1192 Pipe Rolls of Hampshire. The surname was introduced into Ireland in the 13th Century, where it achieved considerable status. Early examples of the surname recording include Sir Anthony de Saint Leger, 1540, Knight of the order of the Garter, thrice Viceroy of Ireland, who forced Ireland into submission under the reigns of Henry VIII , Edward VI and Mary Tudor. A plaque dedicated to Sir Anthony Saint Leger can be found in Saint George Chapel at Windsor) whilst William Ledger and Elizabeth May were married at St. Margarets, Westminster, London, on April 25th 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 King Edward 1st of England, 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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 in Britain as part of the Norman conquest of 1066. His son, Ralph De St. Leger also accompanied the King and fought at the Battle of Hastings. Sir Robert / Roberto had stammata / stigmata , bleeding wounds as Christ and so was considered especially holy. See Roberto stammata.

Primarily a military family, 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 in the First Crusade 1096. Another St. Leger rode with King Philip Augustus in Palestine in 1191. A map of Jerusalem 1099-1147 during the the times of the Crusades, shows a "Leger's Pool" just outside St. Stephen's Gate. Perhaps this is named after one of the St. Legers who fought in Palestine. Geoffrey De St. Leger fought with King Richard I for 15 years in the Holy Land from 1186 to 1201 or 1202. He was present at the siege of Acre in 1187, as was Ralph St. Leger who played a major role in the battle.

Many others were involved in the Church as benefactors, Abbots, Bishops, and Deacons throughout France, England and Ireland. Another Jean St. Leger was a Benedectine and Abbot of Abbey 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 actively raised money for the Crusades.

Sir Thomas Saint Leger was a Knight of the Order of the Bath and Ambassador to France. As such, he along with Louis IX and others signed, the treaty of Pecquigny, ending the 100 years War. He married Anne Plantagenet, Duchess of Exeter, sister of King Edward IV and Richard III. Upon Edward's death n 1483, St. Leger was beheaded by Richard. 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 Queens private chapel in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

[edit] St Legers in history

St Legers of notable historical interest include:

Anthony St. Leger (Lord Deputy of Ireland) - (1496–1559)
Sir John St. Leger of Annery (knight, and land owner) - (1515(1525)–1593)
Sir William St. Leger - (1586–1642)president of the province of Munster in Ireland
Anthony St. Leger (soldier, British MP and founder of the St. Leger Stakes) - (1731–1786)
Colonel Barry St. Leger (British Colonel involved in the United States Revolutionary War) - (1737–1789)
John Hayes St Leger (1756-1800), General, friend of the Prince of Wales
Moya St. Leger (journalist, author, and president of the Connolly Association [1]) - (b. 1938)
Dr Anthony St. Leger (epidemiologist) - (b. 1945)
Elizabeth St Leger first lady mason