Show ContentsMedler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Medler is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in place name Madeley (Staffordshire and Shropshire), Medley in Oxfordshire [1] or a Madely in Gloucestershire. [2] The reason for the multiple local names is because the name generally means "woodland clearing of a man called Mada," from the Old English personal name + "leah." [3]

The one exception is Madeley-Market in Shropshire where "the name of this town indicates its situation between two rivers, and the adjunct arose from the grant of a market here, in the time of Henry III., to a community of Cluniac monks at Wenlock, to whom Madeley belonged." [4] Madley is a small parish, in the union of Dore, hundred of Webtree, in Herefordshire. [4]

Of all the locals, the Staffordshire parish is the oldest as it dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Madanlieg in 975. Both the Staffordshire and Shropshire parishes were entered in the Domesday Book of 1086 and were both listed as Madelie. [5]

Early Origins of the Medler family

The surname Medler was first found in Somerset where Simon atte Middele was listed there 1 Edward I (during the first year of the reign of King Edward I.) [6]

Later Thomas Medlay was listed in Yorkshire in 1419 and Benedict Medley was listed in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire in 1496. [2]

Early History of the Medler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Medler research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1167, 1504, 1510, 1563, 1578, 1600, 1672, 1703, 1706, 1709, 1710, 1717, 1720, 1721, 1722, 1728, 1731, 1735, 1741, 1742, 1744, 1747 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Medler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Medler Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Medler has been spelled many different ways, including Medley, Medleigh, Madley, Madleigh, Medlie, Medlee and many more.

Early Notables of the Medler family

Distinguished members of the family include Henry Medley (d. 1747), British Vice-Admiral who entered the navy in 1703; was in 1706 a midshipman of the Somerset with Captain Price at the relief of Barcelona; passed his examination on 8 Feb. 1709-1710 (passing certificate); and on 5 Sept. 1710 was promoted by Sir John Norris to be Lieutenant of the Fame, from which a few months later he was moved into the Stirling Castle. In 1717 he was a lieutenant of the Barfleur, flagship of Sir George Byng in the Baltic. Early in 1720 he was promoted to the command of the...
Another 131 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Medler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Medler migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Medlers to arrive in North America:

Medler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Medler, who landed in Maryland in 1674 [7]
Medler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mihaly Medler, aged 52, who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Waesland" from Antwerp, Belgium [8]
Medler Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Adolf Medler, aged 20, originally from Russia, who arrived in New York in 1908 aboard the ship "Scharnhorst" from Bremen, Germany [8]
  • Anna Medler, aged 27, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Fort Hamilton" from Hamilton, Bermuda [8]
  • John Medler, aged 33, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Fort Hamilton" from Hamilton, Bermuda [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Medler (post 1700) +

  • Margaret Kent Medler, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from New Mexico, 1932 [9]


The Medler 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: In deo fides
Motto Translation: Faith in God


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. 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)
  8. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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