Ploughdand History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Ploughdand date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in Plowden, a hamlet in the parish of Lydbury North, Shropshire. The local dates back to 1252 when it was first listed as Plaueden and literally means "valley where play or sport takes place," from the Old English words "plaga" + "denu." 1

Early Origins of the Ploughdand family

The surname Ploughdand was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Plowden. Traditionally, they held these estates at the time of the Norman Conquest, but the first record is of Sir Roger Plowden who accompanied King Richard on his Crusade to the Holy Land and was present at the siege of Acre (1191). For his gallantry he was awarded by the King an augmentation of two fleur-des-lys on his Coat of Arms, a distinction the family has borne ever since. 2 "The name occurs upon all county records from the reign of Henry III." 2

Early History of the Ploughdand family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ploughdand research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1518, 1562, 1585, 1590, 1594, 1632, 1649, 1659, 1664 and 1829 are included under the topic Early Ploughdand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ploughdand Spelling Variations

Ploughdand has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Ploughdand have been found, including Plowden, Plowdon, Ploughden, Ploweden, Plough and many more.

Early Notables of the Ploughdand family

Distinguished members of the family include Edmund Plowden (1518-1585), a distinguished English lawyer, legal scholar and Member of Parliament, he was born at Plowden Hall, Lydbury, Shropshire; Thomas Plowden (1594-1664), an English Jesuit from Oxfordshire; Sir Edmund Plowden (1590-1659), grandson of the aforementioned Edmund was...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ploughdand Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ploughdand family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Ploughdands to arrive on North American shores: Edmund Plowden, and Evelin Plowden, who came to Virginia in 1632; Thomas Plowden, who settled in Maryland in 1684; John Plowden, who arrived in Virginia in 1704.

The Ploughdand 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: Quod tibi, hoc alteri
Motto Translation: That is for thee, not the other.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.