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Show ContentsPedar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Pedar family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name is derived from the Middle English word pedder, which means a packman, pedlar. He "makes baskets, or one who hawks fish, from ped, a pannier or basket. The market in Norwich was, or is, a ped-market, according to Way, from the fact that the wares were brought in from the country in peds, and thus exposed for sale. Hence in general a hawker or pedlar." 1

Early Origins of the Pedar family

The surname Pedar was first found in Lancashire at Whittingham, a township, in the ecclesiastical parish of Goosnargh, parish of Kirkham, hundred of Amounderness. "The estate passed by sale to the Pedders, of Preston. Whittingham Hall is now the property of James Pedder, Esq., of Ashton Lodge." 2

One of the first records of the family was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where Martin le Peddere was recorded in Norfolk. 1

Up in Scotland, the name was derived from similar occupations, but appears later: "John Peddar leased part of Kethyk, c. 1443 and Patrick Pedar held part of the same in 1457. John Pedder had a tack of four acres in Betschell haich from the abbot of Cupar in 1558, and Sir Alexander Pedder, a Pope's knight, resigned the vicarage of Awoch in the same year. Andrew Pedder was a student at the University of Aberdeen in 1627; Lennard Pedder in record in Elgin, 1661." 3

Early History of the Pedar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pedar research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1443, 1457, 1479, 1520, 1538, 1542, 1552, 1553, 1554, 1559, 1571, 1655, 1661, 1673 and 1683 are included under the topic Early Pedar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pedar 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 Pedar include Pedder, Peddar, Pether and others.

Early Notables of the Pedar family

Notables of the family at this time include The Very Rev John Pedder, DD (c. 1520- 1571), an English cleric, Dean of Worcester (1559-1571.) He was educated at Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1538, M.A. 1542, and B.D. in 1552. Having embraced the Protestant faith, he went abroad on Queen Mary's accession in 1553. In 1554 he was at Strasburg, and supported Grindal in his advocacy of the prayer-book of the church of...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pedar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pedar 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 Pedar were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Mathew Pedder settled in Barbados with his wife and son in 1678; John Pedder settled in Maryland in 1729; Charles Pedder settled in Virginia in 1765; William Pedder settled in Virginia in 1774.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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