Contents [hide]

Pedlar History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Pedlar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Pedlar is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a person who worked as the pedder. Pedlars often carried his wares in a pack as he traveled throughout the countryside. But the name was originally derived from the Old English word pedder, which meant wicker worker or someone who worked with baskets from ped, a pannier or basket. 1

"In various English dialects signifies a Pedlar; but it must not be regarded as a corruption of that word; a ped, in the eastern counties, means a species of hamper without a lid, for the conveyance of fish, eggs, chicken, &c,; and the person who traffics in such small articles is therefore very properly styled a Pedder." 2

Early Origins of the Pedlar family

The surname Pedlar was first found in Oxfordshire where Robert Piedurs was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. Years later, William Le Pedelare was listed in Worcestershire in 1307 and Ralph le Pedeler was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 3

Early History of the Pedlar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pedlar research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1615, 1656, 1679 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Pedlar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pedlar Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Pedlar has appeared include Pedler, Pedlar, Pedlow, Pedley, Pegler, Pedder and many more.

Early Notables of the Pedlar family

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

Migration of the Pedlar family to Ireland

Some of the Pedlar 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.

Pedlar migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Pedlar arrived in North America very early:

Pedlar Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William Pedlar, aged 34, originally from Dublin, Ireland, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 4
Frederick Pedlar, aged 32, originally from Toronto, Canada, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 4
Frances Ann Pedlar, aged 37, originally from Toronto, Canada, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 4
Hubert Frederick Pedlar, originally from Toronto, Canada, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "New York" from Southampton, England 4
Elsie Pedlar, aged 18, originally from Truro, England, arrived in New York City, New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pedlar migration to Australia +

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

Pedlar Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Pedlar, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 22nd March 1788, sentenced for 7 years for stealing 2 oxen, transported Neptuneon 19th January 1790 to New South Wales, Australia 5

Pedlar 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:

Pedlar Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Lavinia Pedlar, (b. 1855), aged 21, Cornish housemaid departing on 24th June 1876 aboard the ship "Waitangi" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 16th September 1876 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Pedlar (post 1700) +

Sylvia Pedlar (1901-1972), American fashion designer specialising in lingerie, awarded the Special Coty Award in 1951 and 1964, and the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award (1960), founder of the Iris Lingerie in 1929 which ran till 1970
Alan Pedlar, British Department Head of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Manchester
Philip Pedlar (b. 1899), Welsh professional footballer who played from 1922 to 1928
David Pedlar, Canadian Director of Research at the National Headquarters of Veterans Affairs Canada
Arthur Vercoe Pedlar (b. 1932), British clown, known best as a tramp clown and developed the character, "Vercoe" the clown, President of the World Clown Association, inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1998

The Pedlar 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: Animo non astutia
Motto Translation: By courage, not by craft.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
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