Meadows History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The name Meadows is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived in or near a meadow. The surname Meadows is derived from the Old English words mæd and mædwe, which both mean meadow. The surname Meadows 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.

Early Origins of the Meadows family

The surname Meadows 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

Early History of the Meadows family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meadows research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meadows History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meadows Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Meadows family name include Meadowes, Meadows, Meadow, Meddows, Meddus, Meadus, Medus, Medis and many more.

Early Notables of the Meadows family

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

Meadows Ranking

In the United States, the name Meadows is the 766^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Meadows family to Ireland

Some of the Meadows 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.

Meadows migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Meadows surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Meadows Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Philip Meadows, who landed in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1642 3

Meadows Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Meadows and her husband settled in Annapolis in 1758

Meadows Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert C Meadows, aged 33, who arrived in Connecticut in 1812 3
E Meadows, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 3
James and John Meadows, who settled in Philadelphia in 1860

Meadows migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meadows Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Meadows, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749

Meadows migration to Australia +

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

Meadows Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Ellen Meadows who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 20th November 1823, arriving in New South Wales, Australia and Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mr. Barnabas Meadows, (b. 1811), aged 21, English ploughman who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Circassian" on 4th November 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1883 5
George Meadows, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 6
James Meadows, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Sovereign" in 1847 7
David Meadows, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hindoo" in 1848 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meadows 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:

Meadows Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Meadows, aged 25, a carpenter, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1874
Mary Meadows, aged 25, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1874
Frederick Meadows, aged 1, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Meadows (post 1700) +

Mark Randall Meadows (b. 1959), American politician, 29th White House Chief of Staff from 2020 to 2021, U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 11th congressional district from 2013 to 2020, considered one of Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress before his appointment as chief of staff
Mark Meadows, American politician, member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
John Meadows III (1944-2018), American businessman and politician, Member of the Georgia House of Representatives (2004-2018)
Jayne Meadows (1920-2015), born Jane Meadows Cotter, an American three-time Emmy Award nominated actress, elder sister of actress Audrey Meadows
Edwin Lionel "Punky" Meadows (b. 1950), American guitarist
Donella H. "Dana" Meadows (1941-2001), American environmental scientist, teacher and writer
Tim Meadows (b. 1961), American actor and comedian, one of the longest running cast members on Saturday Night Live
Henry Lee "Specs" Meadows (1894-1963), American Major League Baseball pitcher
Matthew Brian Meadows (b. 1975), retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher
Audrey Meadows (1922-1996), American actress best known for her role as Alice Kramden on the 1950s American television comedy The Honeymooners
... (Another 33 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Meadows Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mea dos virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue is my dower.