Show ContentsLunden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Lunden family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the region of London. Lunden is a habitation name from the broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Lunden family

The surname Lunden was first found in Berkshire, but there are two distinct thoughts as to the origin of the name.

The first is that it was derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Lunden or the Middle Welsh names Llundein or Lundein, as mentioned above. [1] In this case, it may have been a tribal or personal name. [2]

The second thought is that the family were in fact, Norman. In this scenario, the first record of the family was "William de Londres, one of the conquerors of Glamorgan, 1090, ancestor of the Lords Loundres of Naas." [3]

Continuing this thread, we found very early entries for the family in Bodmin, Cornwall. "The convent to which this refectory belonged, is said to have been founded originally by John de London, under the immediate patronage of Edmund Earl of Cornwall. The time of its foundation is dated by William of Worcester in the year 1229; but he calls its original founder, John, son of Ralph, lord of Kayryshays." [4]

This latter entry bodes well for the aforementioned Welsh entry. So as to complicate matters, Thomas de London settled in Scotland before 1163 and William and Robert London were listed in Normandy 1180-95, according to the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae. [3]

Early History of the Lunden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lunden research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1640 and 1714 are included under the topic Early Lunden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lunden Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Lunden include London, Londen, Lunnen, Lundin, Lunden, Londoner, Londner and many more.

Early Notables of the Lunden family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lunden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lunden family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Lunden were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John London who settled in Virginia in 1636; Humphrey London settled in Virginia in 1639; Richard London settled in New England in 1654; Alice London settled in Barbados in 1665.


Contemporary Notables of the name Lunden (post 1700) +

  • John A. Lunden, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 19th District, 1921-26; South Dakota commissioner of school and public lands, 1943-49
  • Herman Lunden, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1917-19; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1924


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. 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)
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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