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![Show Contents]() Kedwedelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Wales
The origins of the Welsh name Kedwedelly go back to the ancient Celtic culture that existed in the hills and Moors of Wales. The forbears that initially held the name Kedwedelly once lived in the town of Kidwelly, which is situated in the Welsh region of Dyfed. The Normans noted the strategic importance of this town, which is bordered by the coastline and two minor valleys. The town features a magnificent castle which dates from the 13th century; however, this stands on the site of a previous castle built in 1094, by William de Londres. The surname Kedwedelly belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Early Origins of the Kedwedelly familyThe surname Kedwedelly was first found in Dyfed a former county, and the ancient Welsh Kingdom of Pwyll, Lord of Dyfed in South-west Wales, comprised of the present day counties of Pembroke, Carmarthen, and Cardigan, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Kedwedelly familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kedwedelly research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1094, 1589 and 1747 are included under the topic Early Kedwedelly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kedwedelly Spelling VariationsAlthough there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society in the 15th century. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Kedwedelly has seen various spelling variations: Kidwelly, Kidwelley, Kidwell, Kidwall, Kedwell and others. Early Notables of the Kedwedelly familyMore information is included under the topic Early Kedwedelly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Kedwedelly familyThe Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Kedwedelly: J.H. Kidwell, who sailed to San Francisco in 1851.
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