Sudlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Sudlow family name to the British Isles. They lived in Gloucestershire, at Sudely.

Early Origins of the Sudlow family

The surname Sudlow 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 Sudlow family

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

Sudlow 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 Sudlow family

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

Sudlow migration to the United States +

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 Sudlow or a variant listed above:

Sudlow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Maud Sudlow, aged 23, who settled in America from Blackheath, in 1893
Janet Sudlow, aged 54, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1897

Sudlow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Samuel Sudlow, aged 23, who landed in America from Burnley, in 1900
Mary A. Sudlow, aged 28, who landed in America from Ballivar, in 1903
George Sudlow, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Edward Sudlow, aged 45, who settled in America from Portglade, England, in 1909
John Sudlow, aged 49, who immigrated to the United States from Burslem, England, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sudlow migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sudlow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Sudlow, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863
Ann Sudlow, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863
Robert Sudlow, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Sudlow (post 1700) +

Phebe W. Sudlow (1831-1922), American educator, first female superintendent of a public school in the United States
Bessie Sudlow (1849-1928), stage name of Barbara Elizabeth "Bessie" Johnstone, an English burlesque performer and opera bouffe soprano active in New York
Cathie Sudlow OBE FRSE, British neurologist and professor of Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology at the Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics at the University of Edinburgh

Citations +

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