Merridith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Wales
• Ireland

Early Origins of the Merridith family

Early History of the Merridith family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Merridith research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1529, 1558, 1559, 1589, 1597, 1600, 1656, 1659, 1666, 1679 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Merridith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Merridith Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Merridith have included Meredith, Meradith, Meredeth, Meridith and others.

Early Notables of the Merridith family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Richard Meredith (sometimes Meredyth) (died 1597), Church of Ireland Bishop of Leighlin from 1589 until his death; Sir William Meredith, 1st Baronet of Leeds Abbey, Kent; Sir Richard Meredith, 2nd Baronet (died 1679), an English politician who sat in the...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Merridith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Merridith family to Ireland

Some of the Merridith family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 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 Merridith family

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Merridith: Elizabeth Meredith who settled in New England in 1654; Phillip Meredith who settled in Virginia in 1635; Robert Meredith who settled in Virginia in 1663.