Contents [hide]

Meade History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Meade History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Meade is derived from a variety of sources. Most sources agree the name is derived from "meadow" as in the Anglo-Saxon "meed, what is mowed or cut down. " 1 2 3 4

One source claims the mead is a "location name in Somerset" 5 and of course, mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water. This ancient beverage dates back to vessels dated to at least 7000 BCE as discovered in northern China.

Early Origins of the Meade family

The surname Meade was first found in Warwickshire where Richard Mede was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1199. Later in Essex, John Atemede was listed in the Feet of Fines in 1248; Richard inthemede was listed in Surrey in 1332 and in Yorkshire John del Mede was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. John a Mede was found in Kent in 1454. In these cases, the name literally meant "dweller by the mead." 6

Early History of the Meade family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meade research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1415, 1458, 1459, 1460, 1461, 1462, 1468, 1469, 1475, 1586, 1596, 1613, 1616, 1627, 1628, 1630, 1639, 1653, 1673, 1699, 1713, 1720 and 1754 are included under the topic Early Meade History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meade 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 Meade 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. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Meade include: Mead, Meade, Meades and others.

Early Notables of the Meade family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Matthew Mead or Meade (1630?-1699), an English Independent minister, the second son of Richard Mead of Mursley, Buckinghamshire
Philip Mede or Meade, Meede, (c. 1415-1475) from Mede's Place in Somerset was a wealthy merchant in Bristol and was twice elected a Member of Parliament for Bristol in 1459 and 1460. He was also three...

Meade Ranking

In the United States, the name Meade is the 1,265^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 7 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Meade is ranked the 511^st most popular surname with an estimated 91 people with that name. 8

Migration of the Meade family to Ireland

Some of the Meade 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.

Meade 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 Meade or a variant listed above:

Meade Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Sarah Meade, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 9
Thomas Meade, who landed in Maryland in 1666 9
William Meade, aged 27, who arrived in Virginia in 1683 9
Andrew Meade, who arrived in New York in 1685 9

Meade Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joanna Meade, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1712-1713 9
Nicholas Meade, who landed in New York in 1789 9

Meade Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Meade, who arrived in America in 1807 9
Patrick Meade, who arrived in America in 1810 9
Catherine Meade, aged 29, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1812 9
Alpede Meade, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1830 9
Anthony Meade, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1854 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meade Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Richard Meade, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 9

Meade migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meade Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Meade, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
Judy Meade, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
Mr. James Meade, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 10
Miss. Johanna Meade who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Ann Kenny" departing from the port of Waterford, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 10
Mr. John Meade, aged 24 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Henry" departing from the port of Donegal, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meade migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Meade Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Meade, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Elijah Meade, (b. 1822), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Honor Meade, aged 15, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tory" in 1850 13
Ellen Meade, aged 33, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"

Meade 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:

Meade Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Meade, (b. 1847), aged 20, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" sailing to Auckland and Lyttelton, New Zealand on 29th July 1867 14

Contemporary Notables of the name Meade (post 1700) +

Marion Meade (1934-2022), American biographer and novelist, best known for her portraits of literary figures and iconic filmmakers
Richie Meade (b. 1955), American lacrosse coach
James "Jim" Gordon Meade (1914-1977), American NFL football player who played from 1939 to 1940
Richard Worsam Meade III (1837-1897), American officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War
Richard Worsam Meade II (1807-1870), American officer in the United States Navy, father of Richard Worsam Meade III
Tyson Todd Meade (b. 1962), American musician, painter, writer, teacher, and disc jockey
Alexa Meade (b. 1986), American body paint artist
Mary Meade (1923-2003), American film actress, a Goldwyn Girl, known for her roles in T-Men (1947), Assigned to Danger (1948) and In This Corner (1948)
Emily Meade (b. 1989), American film and television actress
Brigadier-General Frank Celestine Meade (1896-1978), American Director of Communications Branch, European Theater of Operations (1944-1946) 15
... (Another 37 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Meade family +

Flight TWA 800

Ms. Sandra J. Meade (1954-1996), from Camano Island, Washington, USA, American TWA crew member flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 16

The Meade 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: Toujours pret
Motto Translation: Always ready.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 46)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE TORY 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Tory.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, May 9) Frank Meade. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Meade/Frank_Celestine/USA.html
The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm