Show ContentsUdall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Udall surname comes from the place name Yewdale in Lancashire, which is derived from the Old English word "yew," a type of tree and the Old Norse "dalr," meaning "valley." 1 Literally, the place name means "the dale where yew-trees grow"2

Early Origins of the Udall family

The surname Udall was first found in North West Lancashire at Yewdale. While three distinct sources agree on this origin, one differs. In this case, the author notes that the name could have been Norman in origin implying some of the family at one time emigrated to England. He notes that the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Ansgot de Ouvedale (Uvedale) in Normandy 1180-1195. The same source also notes Walder de Hudal in 1198. 3

Scant records are found today of Yewdale other than one source notes that it is a "valley at the north end of Coniston Lake." 4

Apparently at one time "a family of Udall, or Wedalle, owned the manor of Chingford Comitis, Essex, in the reign of Elizabeth. " 5

Another source notes that Alice de Youdall was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 and later, John Yowdall was listed in Cumbria in 1546. 6

Early History of the Udall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Udall research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1437, 1449, 1455, 1464, 1505, 1524, 1542, 1556, 1560 and 1592 are included under the topic Early Udall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Udall Spelling Variations

Udall 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 Udall have been found, including Udall, Udale, Udall, Udle, Yewdale, Yewdall, Youdale and many more.

Early Notables of the Udall family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • John Udall or Uvedale (1560?-1592), was an English Puritan and the fourth and youngest son of Sir William Uvedale. "But as the reputed father died in 1542, probably some eighteen years before the son'...
  • Nicholas Uvedale or Udall (1505-1556), was an English dramatist and scholar, a native of Hampshire. His relationship with the Uvedale family of Wickham in Hampshire, one member of which, living in 144...


United States Udall migration to the United States +

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 Udalls to arrive on North American shores:

Udall Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Udall, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 7
  • Tho Udall, who landed in Virginia in 1657 7
  • Patrick Udall, who settled in Maryland in 1685
Udall Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Walter Udall, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 7
  • John Udall, who settled in New England in 1751

Contemporary Notables of the name Udall (post 1700) +

  • Richard Udall, American Orthodontist
  • Morris King "Mo" Udall (1922-1998), American politician and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Stewart Udall (b. 1920), American Lawyer and Politician
  • Mark E. Udall (b. 1950), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Colorado State House of Representatives, 1996-98; U.S. Representative from Colorado 2nd District, 1999-; U.S. Senator from Colorado, 2009- 8
  • Levi Stewart Udall (1891-1960), American Democratic Party politician, Apache County Attorney, 1923-24, 1927-28; Superior Court Judge in Arizona, 1931-46; Chief Justice of Arizona Supreme Court, 1951-53, 1957-59 8
  • Lee Kenyon Udall (1925-2009), American politician, Mayor of Gilbert, Arizona, 1956-59 8
  • John Nicholas Udall (1913-2005), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, 1948-52; Superior Court Judge in Arizona, 1953-57. Mormon 8
  • John Hunt Udall (1889-1959), American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Governor of Arizona, 1928; Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, 1936-38; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Arizona 1st District, 1948 8
  • Jesse Addison Udall (1893-1980), American Republican politician, Member of Arizona State House of Representatives, 1931-38; Superior Court Judge in Arizona, 1939-42, 1953-58 8
  • Don Taylor Udall (1897-1976), American politician, Member of Arizona State House of Representatives, 1941-42 8
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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