Laundry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Laundry name was coined by the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Laundry was originally a name given to someone who worked as a person or officer who was in charge of washing derived from the Middle English word "lavendrie." 1 2

However other source disagree. One course claims the name is a "descendant of Landry (country, powerful)" 3 and another claims the name is from the "Anglo-Saxon, a landríca, specifically a ‘lord of the manor,’ ‘landlord,’ ‘ local magnate.’ " 4

Early Origins of the Laundry family

The surname Laundry was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Landri and Landricus were registered. 5 Later, Gerard Landri was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1198. In Lincolnshire, Willelmus filius Landrei was registered in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1219 and later in Somerset, Ricardus de la Lavendaria was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1219. Again in Somerset, Robert de la Lauendrie was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1278. 1

In Somerset, we found these early entries, 1 Edward III (during the reign of King Edward III): William le Lavender, Somerset; and Roger atte Louendrye, Somerset. 6

"This surname has crossed the Atlantic and flourishes in the States, although all but extinct in England." 2

Early History of the Laundry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laundry research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Laundry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laundry Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Laundry are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Laundry include: Landry, Landray, Landrey, Laundry and others.

Early Notables of the Laundry family

More information is included under the topic Early Laundry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Laundry family to Ireland

Some of the Laundry family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laundry migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Laundry or a variant listed above:

Laundry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Betty Laundry, aged 1, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1755 7
Germain Laundry, who landed in Massachusetts in 1755 7
John Baptist Laundry, aged 14, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1755 7
Joseph Laundry, aged 24, who landed in Massachusetts in 1755 7
Rossale Laundry, aged 8, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1755 7

Laundry migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Laundry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Ada Laundry, (b. 1874), aged Infant, Cornish settler departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 8
Miss Elizabeth Laundry, (b. 1848), aged 26, Cornish servant departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 8
Miss Hannah Laundry, (b. 1853), aged 21, Cornish settler departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 8
Mrs. Jane Laundry, (b. 1827), aged 47, Cornish settler departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 8
Mr. John Laundry, (b. 1852), aged 22, Cornish carpenter departing on 10th April 1874 aboard the ship "Stonehouse" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th June 1874 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf