An English and Scottish surname, Edgar comes from the Old English terms ‘ead’ which means good fortune or happy and ‘gar’ which refer to a spear. Together the name refers to someone as the protector of the good. The spelling variations for Edgar include Agar, Egarr, Adger, Eger, Eagger and Eager. In northern England is where the greatest Edgar populations live. The counties of Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire and Westmorland. Also to the south in the city of London are many with the Edgar surname. The southwestern regions of Scotland is where many individuals with the Edgar family name reside. The counties with the greatest numbers are Lanarkshire, Dumfries-shire, Ayrshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. Within the United States the earliest Edgar families lived in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. Famous and renowned people with the surname: John Edgar (late 18th century early pioneer in Illinois and wealthy merchant), Ross Edgar (champion track cyclist from Scotland), Kika Edgar (signer and actress from Mexico), George Marriott Edgar (from Kirkcudbright, Scotland - known as a comic, scriptwriter and poet), David Edward Edgar (professional footballer from Canada), James Edgar (in 1890 he developed and started the idea of dress up as Santa Claus in department stores in Brockton, Massachusetts) and Jon Edgar (English artist).