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The name Maydew is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in or near a meadow. The surname Maydew is derived from the Old English words mæd and mædwe, which both mean meadow. The surname Maydew belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.
The surname Maydew was first found in Suffolk at Witnesham, a parish, in the union of Woodbridge, hundred of Carlford. "The family of Meadows, from a branch of which the present Earl Manvers is descended, have had a seat here since the time of Richard III." 1
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maydew research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Maydew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Maydew are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Maydew include: Meadowes, Meadows, Meadow, Meddows, Meddus, Meadus, Medus, Medis and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Maydew Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.