From: Reaney, P H, (ed. Wilson, R M), 1997, Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames, 3rd ed., OUP, Oxford, unless otherwise stated.
There is just one I-name in Andrew’s Kindred.
Illidge
Earliest in Andrew’s Kindred: Daniel and Anne Illidge, parents of Daniel Illidge, baptised 2 Feb 1759, Tettenhall Regis, St Michael & All Angels.
Not covered by Reaney.
There is some suggestion of a lost settlement on the Staffordshire – Cheshire border, but nothing online supports the idea.
Places beginning with “Ill” are generally to do with somewhere on or by a hill. So, just maybe, someone who lived at the edge of a hill?
Harriot’s Hayes
There is a connection. Mother told me that when she was small, her grandfather took her there to see some relatives and, wait for this, on the crossbar of his bicycle! That is about twenty miles. Now, they lived at a place called Harriot’s Hayes, about a half mile from Codsall Wood. This would be in the mid-nineteen thirties, when motorised transport was for the wealthy few and still very rare – they would be more likely to meet a horse and cart than a motor car.
Dad and I went there one day, but the farmhouse was concealed by high hedges and a curved drive. Apparently it is now a listed building.
Harriots Hayes farm. OS, surveyed 1881-1883. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
In my hockey playing days I encountered a fearless, bearded goalkeeper named Dave Illidge, who played for Stone, but back then I had no idea if he was related. He was really pissed off when I scored against him (and rightly). We may be related, but the Brown-Illidge line in Andrew’s Kindred died out. Their graves are in the churchyard at Albrighton.
| IN / LOVING MEMORY OF / WILLIAM ILLIDGE / WHO DIED 13TH APRIL 1920 / AGED 75 YEARS / ALSO OF HIS BELOVED WIFE / SELINA / WHO DIED 1ST MAY 1936 / AGED 92 YEARS / ALSO OF THEIR BELOVED SON / WILLIAM ALFRED / WHO DIED 27TH APRIL 1931 / AGED 49 YEARS. | IN / LOVING MEMORY OF / SELINA FLORENCE ILLIDGE / WHO DIED 26TH JAN 1951 / AGED 76 YEARS / ALSO OF HER SISTER JESSIE / WHO DIED 27TH MAY 1963 / AGED 85 YEARS / ALSO FREDERICK JOHN ILLIDGE / BROTHER OF SELINA & JESSIE / WHO DIED 13TH AUG 1967 / AGED 85 YEARS / REST IN PEACE. |
Andrew's Kindred 