Molder Surname History

Origins Available:
England

Molder is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Molder family lived in Devon. The name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Meules in Calvados, in the arrondisement of Lisieux in the canton of Orbec, Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Molder family

The surname Molder was first found in Devon where they were under tenants of Baldwin FitzGilbert, Sheriff of Devon. Typical of the family's early benevolence, the parish of Skirbeck in Lincolnshire was the site of an early hospital.

Interestingly, the first record of the name appears before the Domesday Book of 1086 which is very unique. Ælfgar de Muletune, a Saxon was found in Suffolk c. 975. Later, Thomas de Moleton, de Multon was registered in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1166. 2

"An hospital for ten persons, founded here in honour of St. Leonard, was given in 1230 by Sir Thomas Multon, Knt., to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, who dedicated it anew to St. John the Baptist. In the time of Edward II., its revenue was sufficient for the maintenance of four priests, of twenty people in the infirmary, and for the daily relief of forty more at the gate." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Agnes de Multon in Norfolk, 1273; Thomas de Multon in Lincolnshire; Adam de Multon in Cambridgeshire; and Alex, de Multon in Oxfordshire. 4

Early History of the Molder family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Molder research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1576, 1582, 1591, 1616, 1617, 1624, 1628, 1634, 1638 and 1661 are included under the topic Early Molder History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Molder Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Moulson, Moulton, Molson, Molton and others.

Early Notables of the Molder family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Moulson, or Mowlson (1582-1638), an alderman, Sheriff of London in 1624 , Lord Mayor of London in 1634 and represented the City...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Molder Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Molder migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Molder or a variant listed above:

Molder Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Molder, who landed in Maryland in 1672 5

Molder Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sebastian Molder, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 5

Molder migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Molder Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joanna Molder, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1833

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)