Show ContentsLoudermilk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Loudermilk is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Loudermilk family lived in Lowther, now in the civil parish in Eden District, Cumbria. Historically in Westmorland, Lowther was first recorded as Lauder c. 1175 and it thought to have been named from the River Lowther. 1 "It formerly contained a village of the same name, which was demolished in 1682, by Sir John Lowther, who soon afterwards built another, called New-town, where carpet and linen manufactories were established." 2 "Lowther Castle, the residence of the family of that name, stands majestically in a park of 600 acres, and combines the grand effect of a fortification with the splendour of a palace; the fabric is modern, having been commenced in 1802, upon the site of the ancient Hall, which was nearly destroyed by fire in 1720. " 2

Early Origins of the Loudermilk family

The surname Loudermilk was first found in Westmorland, an area in the North East of England (now part of Cumbria,) where the family is "eminently a knightly family, traced by Brydges to Sir Gervase de Lowther, living in the reign of Henry III. Other authorities make Sir Hugh de Lowther, knight for this county, in the 28th of Edward I., as the first recorded ancestor; his great-grandson was at Agincourt in 1415." 3

Lowther is a parish in Westmorland. "It formerly contained a village of the same name, which was demolished in 1682, by Sir John Lowther, who soon afterwards built another, called New-town." 2

Early History of the Loudermilk family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Loudermilk research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1215, 1583, 1588, 1589, 1593, 1605, 1626, 1628, 1640, 1641, 1655, 1659, 1660, 1668, 1675, 1692, 1693, 1696, 1700, 1713, 1723 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Loudermilk History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Loudermilk Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Loudermilk are characterized by many spelling variations. 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. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Loudermilk include Lowther, Louder, Lowder, Louther and others.

Early Notables of the Loudermilk family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Richard Lowther of Lowther, High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1588; Gerard Lowther of Penrith, High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1593; Sir John Lowther of Lowther Hall; Richard Lowther (ca. 1583-1659), an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed 1626, Member of Parliament for Appleby 1640; Sir John Lowther, 1st Baronet (1605-1675), an English lawyer, landowner, and politician who sat in the House of Commons...
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Loudermilk Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Loudermilk Ranking

In the United States, the name Loudermilk is the 7,395th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Ireland Migration of the Loudermilk family to Ireland

Some of the Loudermilk family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Loudermilk family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Loudermilk, or a variant listed above: Luke Lowther settled in Barbados in 1679; William Lowther settled in Virginia in 1635; Thomas Lowther settled in Jamaica in 1679; Joseph Lowther settled in New York in 1804..


Contemporary Notables of the name Loudermilk (post 1700) +

  • Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (1924-1965), known professionally as Ira Louvin, an American country music singer, mandolinist and songwriter
  • Charles Elzer Loudermilk (1927-2011), known professionally as Charlie Louvin, an American country music singer and songwriter
  • John D. Loudermilk Jr. (1934-2016), American singer and songwriter, known for "Indian Reservation" (1968), "Ebony Eyes" (1961) Tobacco Road" (1964) and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (1967)
  • Barry Daen Loudermilk (b. 1963), American politician, Member of the Georgia Senate (2015-)


The Loudermilk 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: Magistratus indicat virum
Motto Translation: The magistracy shows the man.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook