Edgar facts for kids

King Edgar seated between St. Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester, and St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. This picture is from an old book made in the 1000s.

The name Edgar is a popular English name with a long history. It comes from an old Anglo-Saxon name, also called Edgar. This name is made of two parts: ead, which means "rich" or "prosperous," and gar, which means "spear." So, the name Edgar can mean something like "rich spear" or "prosperous with a spear."

For a while, after the Anglo-Saxon period, the name Edgar wasn't used much. But it became popular again in the 1700s. A famous writer named Sir Walter Scott helped make it well-known when he used it for a character in his book The Bride of Lammermoor in 1819.

What Does the Name Edgar Mean?

The name Edgar has roots in Old English. It combines words that mean "wealth" or "fortune" with "spear." This suggests someone who is successful or powerful. Many names from this time were about strength or good fortune.

Famous People Named Edgar

Many interesting people throughout history have been named Edgar. From kings to artists, the name has been carried by many notable figures.

Kings and Rulers

• Edgar the Peaceful (942–975): He was a powerful king of England. He helped bring peace and order to the country.
• Edgar the Ætheling (c. 1051 – c. 1126): He was the last person from the old Anglo-Saxon royal family of England.
• Edgar of Scotland (1074–1107): He was a king of Scotland.
• Edgar Lungu: He served as the sixth president of Zambia, a country in Africa.

Writers and Artists

• Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950): He was an American author famous for creating the character Tarzan.
• Edgar Allan Poe: An American author, poet, and literary critic. He is best known for his mysterious and spooky stories and poems.
• Edgar Degas: A French artist known for his paintings, sculptures, and drawings. He often painted dancers and everyday life.
• Edgar Wright: A British film director. He is known for making fun and action-packed movies.
• Edgar Winter: An American musician. He is known for playing many instruments and his unique style of music.

Sports Stars

• Edgar Davids: A famous Dutch footballer. He was known for his strong play and his special goggles.
• Edgar Martínez: An American Major League Baseball player. He played for the Seattle Mariners and is considered one of the best hitters ever.
• Edgar Cheung: A fencer from Hong Kong. He won an Olympic gold medal in foil fencing.
• Frankie Edgar: An American mixed martial arts fighter. He is known for his exciting fights.

Other Notable Edgars

• Edgar Bergen (1903–1978): An American actor and ventriloquist. He was famous for performing with his wooden dummy, Charlie McCarthy.
• Edgar Mitchell: An American astronaut. He was one of the few people to walk on the Moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission.
• Edgar Cayce (1877–1945): An American psychic and healer. He was known for his "readings" while in a trance.

Fictional Characters Named Edgar

The name Edgar has also been used for many characters in books, movies, and TV shows.

• Edgar in Shakespeare's play King Lear: He is a main character who goes through many challenges.
• Edgar in the film Men in Black: He is a farmer who turns out to be an alien!
• Edgar Balthazar in Disney's The Aristocats: He is the butler who tries to get rid of the cats.
• Edgar Bones in the Harry Potter series: He is a wizard and a member of the Order of the Phoenix.
• Edgar Linton in Wuthering Heights: He is a kind and gentle character in the famous novel.
• Edgar Ross in the video games Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2: He is a lawman.

Edgar as a Family Name

Sometimes, Edgar is used as a last name, also known as a surname. Here are a few people who have Edgar as their family name.

• Jim Edgar (born 1946): An American politician who served as the Governor of Illinois.
• David Edgar (swimmer) (born 1950): An American swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal.
• Kika Edgar (born 1985): A Mexican actress and singer.
• Frankie Edgar (born 1981): An American mixed martial arts fighter. (Yes, he's also listed above as a famous person with Edgar as a first name!)

Fictional Characters with Edgar as a Last Name

• Jerome "Jerry" Edgar in the Bosch book series and TV show: He is a detective.
• Stan Edgar in The Boys: He is a powerful leader of a big company.
• Edgar Frog in the film The Lost Boys: He is a character who hunts vampires.

See also

• J. Edgar Hoover: A famous former head of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• Edgars (name): The name Edgar in the Latvian language.
• Edgaras: The name Edgar in the Lithuanian language.
• Edgardo: The name Edgar in the Italian language.

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