Show ContentsLedlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Ledlow comes from when the family resided on a hill beside a babbling river which was later referred to as Ludlow Ledlow is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Ledlow family

The surname Ledlow was first found in Shropshire at Ludlow, a market town close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. The first listing of the place name dates back to 1138 where it was listed as Ludelaue and literally meant "hill or tumulus by a rapid," derived from the Old English words hlude + hlaw. [1] Ludlow was called by the Britons Dinam, or "the palace of princes," and by the Saxons Leadlowe, and Ludlowe. One reference claims Robert de Montgomery, kinsman of the Conqueror, fortified the town with walls, and erected most of its stately castle in which he lived until his death in 1094. Yet another reference claims the castle was built by Walter de Lacy in the late 11th century as possession of Ludlow Castle descended through the Lacy family until 1115. Mother Ludlam's Cave or Mother Ludlum's Hole is a small cave in the sandstone cliff of the Wey Valley at Moor Park, near Farnham, Surrey. The earliest record of the place occurs when a monk named Symon found a spring rising in the cave in the 13th century. Mother Ludlam was claimed to be a white witch who lived in the cave. Her cauldron has been kept in Frensham Church nearby for centuries.

Early History of the Ledlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ledlow research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1551, 1588, 1590, 1617, 1634, 1664, 1680, 1692 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Ledlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ledlow Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Ledlow include Ludlow, Ludley, Ludloe and others.

Early Notables of the Ledlow family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Roger Ludlow (1590-1664), an English lawyer, magistrate, military officer, and colonist who helped found the Colony of Connecticut, he directed Boston's first fortification, Castle William in 1634; Edmund Ludlow (Ludlowe) (c. 1617-1692), an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ledlow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Ledlow family to Ireland

Some of the Ledlow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 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 Ledlow family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Roger and Sara Ludlow settled in Nantasket in 1630 with their six children; Edward Ludlow arrived in New York with his wife and five children in 1823..


Contemporary Notables of the name Ledlow (post 1700) +

  • Janie Ledlow Shores (1932-2017), American jurist on the Supreme Court of Alabama, the first woman to ever serve on that court


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook