This is an Olde Germanic (pre 7th Century) locational name which describes a dweller at a corner house or possibly the corner of a cultivated area or woodland. The original spelling was 'eck', the later medieval developments being 'ecke' and 'egge'. As a surname the spelling is found in various guises in all North European Countries the name development and recordings in England include the following Amos Hegh, christened at St. Dionis, London in 1602 whilst in 1615 Joane Ege married John Eadie at St. Stephans Church, Coleman Street, London on the 13th February of that year. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Abraham Egge, which was dated 1582, christened at St. Andrew Undershaft Church, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. 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.