Merridew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

Etymology of Merridew

What does the name Merridew mean?

The Merridew surname comes from the Welsh personal name Meredydd or Maredudd. The Old Welsh form of the name is Morgetiud; experts state that the first portion of this name may mean pomp or splendor, while the second portion is "udd," which means "lord."

Early Origins of the Merridew family

The surname Merridew was first found in Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych), a historic county in Northeast Wales created by the Laws in Wales Act 1536, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Merridew family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merridew research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1529, 1558, 1559, 1589, 1597, 1600, 1656, 1659, 1666, 1679 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Merridew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merridew Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Merridew have included Meredith, Meradith, Meredeth, Meridith and others.

Early Notables of the Merridew family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Richard Meredith (sometimes Meredyth) (died 1597), Church of Ireland Bishop of Leighlin from 1589 until his death; Sir William Meredith, 1st Baronet of Leeds Abbey, Kent; Sir Richard Meredith, 2nd Baronet (died 1679), an English politician who sat in the...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merridew Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merridew family to Ireland

Some of the Merridew family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merridew family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Merridew: Elizabeth Meredith who settled in New England in 1654; Phillip Meredith who settled in Virginia in 1635; Robert Meredith who settled in Virginia in 1663.

The Merridew Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Heb Dduw heb ddim, a Duw a digon
Motto Translation: Without God there is nothing.