Show ContentsFlowerdew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Flowerdew is derived from the French 'fleur' and ' Dieu,' which literally means "God's flower" [1]

Early Origins of the Flowerdew family

The surname Flowerdew was first found in Norfolk where John Floure-dieu was listed in 1541. A few years later, John Flowerdew, of Hetherset, Norfolk was registered as holding lands in 1549 and William Flowerdew was rector of Ashby, Norfolk in 1606. [2]

Early History of the Flowerdew family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Flowerdew research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1552, 1555, 1569, 1571, 1573, 1577, 1579, 1586, 1592, 1606, 1619 and 1685 are included under the topic Early Flowerdew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Flowerdew Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Flowerdew has been recorded under many different variations, including Flowerdew, Flowerday, Flowerdue, Flourdough, Flowerdo and many more.

Early Notables of the Flowerdew family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Edward Flowerdew (d. 1586), English judge, fourth son of John Flowerdew of Hethersett, Norfolk, a large landed proprietor...

Ireland Migration of the Flowerdew family to Ireland

Some of the Flowerdew family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Flowerdew migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Flowerdews were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Flowerdew Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Eliza Flowerdew, who landed in Virginia in 1642 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Flowerdew (post 1700) +

  • Bob Flowerdew, Britain's leading organic gardener
  • Lieutenant Gordon Muriel Flowerdew (1885-1918), Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War [4]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  3. 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)
  4. The Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM). (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Gordon Flowerdew. Retrieved from http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=38211


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