Pagh
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Pagh is ancient Danish surname, from old Dane language, which means "Palisade" or "fenced town" from Celtic, as the root word "Agh" seems to indicate "town".
The surname comes from Palnatoke, Jarl of Denmark, King or chieftain of Funen, that some historians only mention as Toke for first name, indicating that already in 800 B.C. this family seems to have existed.
Palnatoke was cousin to Harald Bluetooth, and to avoid a bloodbath caused by civil war, and for personal reasons, killed this king, avenging the death of his brother Oke, killed, ambushed by Harald. Later married with the daughter of the Duke of Bretland. (nowadays Wales)
On 1308 to 1339 what was left of Denmark was ruled by Peder Pagh, bishop of Odense, member of "Saint Canutes" order resident of Castle Orkil. This bishop was responsible for building the first school of Latin in Denmark and financing language studies in France, for Danish students.
He was also on a delicate political situation, both with his superior Archbishop, and with the German "bald count" a powerful German noble who was buying the whole of Denmark and was trying to purchase from the Church what was left of it.
He is the responsible for paving the way to a famous Danish king: Valdemar Atterdag, (Valdemar All day long) by opening the Church archives to this persona allowing him to know the lands he had rights to in Denmark to reinforce his power as a future ruler.
After the "bald counts" death, under extraordinary circumstances, the bishop remains in power defeating two attempts from foreign kings to seize power in Denmark with the Funen cavalry and routed by the sons of the counts, however, remaining in power until his death, where Valdemar Atterdag assumes then the throne of Denmark.
After this, the family has occupied less significant works on Denmark, but still keeping its power.
The motto of this family comes from Peder Paghs coat of arms: "Kong Knud Som Er I Gud, Kom Mig Ihu" (King Canute that is with God, Come to my Assistance" indicating together with his coat of arms, royal crown and crest, the golden crowned dragon of Dan, that this family has royal inheritage descending from the King Canute's line.
However, the stone epitaph that was on the church of Holy Mary in Odense was removed by the Germans after Denmark lost the war to Bismark, perhaps as a revenge from the family of the bald count, so only a few documents prove that it was there.
Today with the modernist tendencies in Denmark, the icons of Danish ancient nobility are fading away, so the coat of arms of the city of Odense has been changed, so instead of the original blue field with a golden lily on the center, which is the same as the coat of arms of this family, it has become more complicated, still, with the banner of the family being held by Saint Canute, and between his legs the lily of the family still is.
Other members of the Pagh family have done amazing things for Denmark, aiding the king to found Fredericia and uniting all merchants of Denmark under one association only, even trying to create competition between Esbjerg and Hamburg, building a harbour on this tiny city of Denmark, and as directors of the "Western Asiatic" naval company.
Entrepreneurs and great landowners all of them, as well as artists.
"A Pagh just cant keep quiet" as they say.
