Show ContentsGladd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gladd family

The surname Gladd was first found in Staffordshire and Lincolnshire where Gladuin(e) was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 In Latin, the place name was listed as Gladuin-us and Gleduin-us. 2

While both counties are listed in the Domesday Book, Staffordshire was the county that had the first listing for the family: Glad(e)wine was listed at Burton, Staffordshire c. 1113. A few years later, Henry and Peter Gladwine were listed at Winton, Hampshire in 1148 and Robert Gledewyne was later listed in the Assize Rolls of Kent in 1317. 3

This latter source continues to note that the name "was unrecorded in Old English, but fairly common in the 12th century." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Walter Gladewyne and Roger Gladewine as both holding lands in Cambridgeshire at that time. 4

Two sources notes that the name could have been a nickname for "merry or kind friend from the [Old English glaed + wine, friend] " 2 or "kind friend" 5

Early History of the Gladd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gladd research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1455, 1487 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Gladd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gladd Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gladwin, Gladwine, Gladewin, Gladwind, Gladwyne, Cladwin, Cladwine and many more.

Early Notables of the Gladd family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gladd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gladd family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: W Gladwin landed in San Francisco in 1850 with his brother.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print


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