Show ContentsLudden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ludden family

The surname Ludden was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the village and lands of Loudham, held by Walter FitzAubrey and Walter of Caen in Normandy, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Ludden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ludden research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1103, 1510, 1552, 1560 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Ludden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ludden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Loudham, Lowdham, Lodeham, Lodham, Loughdam, Loudam, Lowdam, Lowdem, Loudem, Ludham, Luddam and many more.

Early Notables of the Ludden family

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


United States Ludden migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ludden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Ludden, who arrived in Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1636 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Ludden (post 1700) +

  • Raymond P. Ludden (1909-1979), American diplomat, American Department of State official
  • Brad Ludden (b. 1981), American professional kayaker
  • Allen Ellsworth Ludden (1917-1981), born Allen Packard Ellsworth, an American television personality, emcee and game show host of Password (1961-1980)
  • Walter D. Ludden, American Republican politician, Member of New York Republican State Committee, 1930 3
  • Raymond P. Ludden, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Liverpool, 1932; Mukden, 1938; U.S. Consul in Kunming, 1943; U.S. Consul General in Canton, 1949 3
  • Mandeville T. Ludden (1830-1882), American Republican politician, Member of Maine State Senate, 1867-68; Mayor of Lewiston, Maine, 1881-82 3
  • John D. Ludden, American politician, Member of Minnesota Territorial House of Representatives, 1851-53; Speaker of Minnesota Territory House of Representatives, 1852; Member Minnesota Territorial Council 1st District, 1856-57 3
  • Anthony P. Ludden, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1924 3


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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