Dudley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The Anglo-Saxon name Dudley comes from when the family resided in the important town of Dudley in the county of Worcestershire. The name of this town was originally derived from the Old English personal name Dudda and the Old English word leah, which means woodland clearing; thus it means Dudda's glade. 1The surname Dudley belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Dudley family

The surname Dudley was first found in Worcestershire at Dudley, a town that dates back to the Domesday Book where it was listed as Dudelei. "This place derives its name from Dodo, or Dudo, a Saxon prince, by whom it was owned at the time of the heptarchy, and who built a castle here about the year 700, which, during the contest between Stephen and the Empress Matilda, was garrisoned for the latter by Gervase Paganell, to whom the barony at that time belonged. Gervase having subsequently taken part in the rebellion of Prince Henry against his father, Henry II., his castle was demolished in the 20th year of that monarch's reign. The present keep, with the gateway and chapel, is of the architecture of the 13th century; the other buildings were erected by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, in the time of Edward VI. " 2

Dudley Castle was listed there and at that time Earl Edwin held the manor also located there. Dudley and much of the surrounding area was held by William fitzAnsculf and was part of the Came hundred. 3

Today Dudley Castle is a ruined castle but has a visitor's center that was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June 1994. At one time, the family was found in the chapelry of Singleton-in-the-Fylde (Little Singleton) in Lancashire as evidenced by this entry: "Edmund Dudley, who was attainted and executed in 1510, possessed Little Singleton." 2

The same Sir Edmund Dudley's lands were lost also lost at Balderston, again in Lancashire. "A portion subsequently passed to the Dudley family; and after the execution of the celebrated Sir Edmund Dudley for high treason, an inquisition was taken, 1st Henry VIII., when it was found that the manor was an escheat to the crown." 2

Early History of the Dudley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dudley research. Another 352 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1225, 1379, 1462, 1504, 1510, 1532, 1547, 1550, 1553, 1561, 1576, 1588, 1597, 1600, 1647, 1653, 1661, 1670, 1684, 1686, 1720 and 1721 are included under the topic Early Dudley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dudley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Dudley has been recorded under many different variations, including Dudley, Dudlie, Dudly and others.

Early Notables of the Dudley family

Distinguished members of the family include

Dudley Ranking

In the United States, the name Dudley is the 740th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 4 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Dudley is ranked the 961st most popular surname with an estimated 7,244 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Dudley family to Ireland

Some of the Dudley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Dudley migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Dudley or a variant listed above:

Dudley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Dudley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Dudley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dudley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dudley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Dudley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Dudley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dudley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Dudley 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:

Dudley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Dudley migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16
Dudley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Dudley (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Dudley +
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