Show ContentsFendor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Fendor family

The surname Fendor was first found in Huntingdonshire where Robert le Fendur was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1267. A few years later, Thomas le Fendour was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301. 1

Another source notes that "Richard de Vendure witnesses Hugh de Coluncis' grant to Motesfont Priory, Hampshire; Oliver de Vendoure and 'Willielmus frater ejus' that of Simon de Crevecoeur to Bullington Priory, Lincolnshire. Gunilda de Wendoure paid a fine in Buckinghamshire in 1202.

The phonetic sound of the name pointed to many different spellings. "Richard de Wendour was Archdeacon of Axfordby in 1230: and two of the name, Hugo de Wendor, of Lincolnshire, and Alan de Vendur of Yorkshire, occur about 1272 in the Hundredorum Rolls " 2

"Sir John de Wendour was Chamberlain of Chester 9 and 15 Edward. In the Issue Roll, under date 50 Ed. II I. , we find the following entry : '20th November.—To John Vendour of Newark, coming by command of the Council from Lincoln, to bring Sir William de Cantelupe, knight, to the Tower of London, upon suspicion had against him for the death of Nicholas de Cantelupe, his brother, slain : and there safely and securely to keep him in the King's prison until otherwise respecting the same William it should be ordered by the King and his Council. In money paid, &c., in discharge of one hundred shillings, which the Lord the King commanded to be paid him for the wages and expenses of himself and his men going with him and his retinue, for the safe custody of the aforesaid William.' "

"In some cases Vendoure appears to have been synonymous with the English local name of Wendover. Oliver de Vendoure of Lincolnshire, for instance, is, as often as not, styled in the Monasticon, Oliver de Wendover." 2

Early History of the Fendor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fendor research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1381, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Fendor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fendor 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 Fendor family name include Fender, Fendor, Fendur, Fendere, Vendor, Vender, Fenter, Fentor, Fendour and many more.

Early Notables of the Fendor family

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

Migration of the Fendor family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, 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 Fendor surname or a spelling variation of the name include: George Fender, whose Oath of Allegiance was recorded in Philadelphia in 1868; and John Fender, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1854.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3


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