It is unclear where the family originated, some including Dr Hugh Norris, author of "South Petherton in Olden Times" considers the family to be of Anglo-Saxon stock. It has also been suggested that the family were descended from Jomsburg Vikings who settled in Somerset after the signing of the Treaty of Wedmore in the late 9th century, however there is little evidence to support this. My favoured theory is that the family were minor gentry in Normandy and arrived soon after the Norman conquest to become warders for their lords in Normandy.

Entry for the name Fagg in "The Norman People".

Fage or Fagg, John, Robert and Simon de Fago of Normandy 1198, William de Fago 1180 (Magn. Rotul. Scaccarii); Walter Fogge of Norfolk 1199 (Pulgrave, Rotuli Curia Regis) William le Fag paid a fine in Sussex 1265 (Roberts Excerpta). Of this line were the Fagges of Sussex Baronets.

Viking

Vagn Akason, the son of Ake and his wife Thorgunna, was a chief of the Jomsburg Vikings. He married Ingebjorg, a daughter of Thorkel Leira. It is possible that he settled in Somerset after the signing of the Treaty of Wedmore in 878. Vagn plays a prominant role in parts one and two of King Olaf Trygvason's Saga:

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III

Early French

The earliest mentions of the Vagg family in Somerset (Fageth, Faget, Fageht) show a possible Norman corruption of an earlier name or may indicate a French origin for the family. In support of this arguement, there are the following mentions in the early Pipe Rolls of Normandy:

• 1180 - William de Fago
• 1198 - John Fage, Robert Fagg and Simon de Fago

The map below shows a number places in France with strikingly similar names:

Early English

At the same time as its growth in Somerset, a branch of the Fag/Vag family began to develop in the South East corner of Kent. Just as in Somerset the written history of this family really begins in the early 14th century, with numerous references to the family cropping up in the Romney Marsh, Walland Marsh and Isle of Oxney areas (about 30 square miles). By the end of the medieval period the families had largely settled on the spelling Fagge.

Whether the Somerset and Kent branches are connected in any way is still up for debate, however some indication of a link is hinted at. One such hint is that close to this area is the village of Etchingham, the ancient seat of the Etchingham family. Through the marriage of William Echingham to Margery de Montacute, William became brother-in-law to Ralph De La Haye, Tenant in Chief of Chilthorne Vagg. Also, and perhaps more significantly, the name Fagg appears in West Firle in the 13th century, this is also the locaion of the manor of Hecton (now Heighton), one of those manors that were the inheritance of Emma, wife of Alvred the Butler, daughter of Ralph of Dene.