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![Show Contents]() Medows History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestry of the name Medows dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in or near a meadow. The surname Medows is derived from the Old English words mæd and mædwe, which both mean meadow. The surname Medows belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. Early Origins of the Medows familyThe surname Medows was first found in Suffolk at Witnesham, a parish, in the union of Woodbridge, hundred of Carlford. "The family of Meadows, from a branch of which the present Earl Manvers is descended, have had a seat here since the time of Richard III." 1 Early History of the Medows familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Medows research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Medows History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Medows Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Medows have been found, including Meadowes, Meadows, Meadow, Meddows, Meddus, Meadus, Medus, Medis and many more. Early Notables of the Medows familyMore information is included under the topic Early Medows Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Medows family to Ireland
Some of the Medows 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.
| Medows migration to the United States | + |
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Medows, or a variant listed above:
Medows Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Anne Medows, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Medows (post 1700) | + |
- John Medows Rodwell (1808-1900), English translator of the Koran
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: Mea dos virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue is my dower.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- 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)
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Medows migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
