Show ContentsPloweden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The lineage of the name Ploweden begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived 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 Ploweden family

The surname Ploweden 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 Ploweden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ploweden 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 Ploweden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ploweden Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Ploweden has undergone many spelling variations, including Plowden, Plowdon, Ploughden, Ploweden, Plough and many more.

Early Notables of the Ploweden 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 Ploweden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ploweden migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Ploweden were among those contributors:

Ploweden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Ploweden who landed in America in 1753


The Ploweden 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.


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


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