Sowdelay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Sowdelay arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Sowdelay family lived in Gloucestershire, at Sudely.

Early Origins of the Sowdelay family

The surname Sowdelay was first found in Gloucestershire where they held a family seat at Sudely Castle. Conjecturally they are descended from the holder of these estates, Harold FitzRalph, said to be the illegitimate son of King Harold, 1 but counter claims say that he was the son of the Earl of Hereford. He was granted these lands by Duke William of Normandy after the Conquest of England in 1066 A.D. The Domesday Book survey of 1086 A.D., shows Harold as holding 6 mills. The Castle was erected soon after as a defense against the Welsh intrusions to the west.

Early History of the Sowdelay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sowdelay research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1140 is included under the topic Early Sowdelay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sowdelay Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Sudeley, Sudely, Sudly, Sodely, Soudley, Soudly, Soudely and many more.

Early Notables of the Sowdelay family

More information is included under the topic Early Sowdelay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sowdelay family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Sowdelay or a variant listed above: John Sudley who settled in Carolina in 1717.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.