Houldere History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Houldere

The name Houldere is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived as tenants or occupiers of land. The surname Houldere originally derived from the Old English word Haldan. 1 Conversely, another source claims that the name was derived from the Old English word "h(e)aldan," meaning "to guard or keep." It is thought to have been an occupational name for a keeper of animals, but may also have been used in the sense of a holder of land within the Feudal System. 2

Early Origins of the Houldere family

Early History of the Houldere family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Houldere research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1616, 1631, 1633, 1640, 1642, 1643, 1676 and 1698 are included under the topic Early Houldere History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Houldere Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Houldere has been spelled many different ways, including Holder, Holdere, Holders and others.

Early Notables of the Houldere family

Distinguished members of the family include Christopher Holder (c. 1631-1676), an English Quaker minister from Gloucestershire who emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony but was still persecuted for his beliefs before moving to Rhode Island. William Holder (1616-1698), was an English divine, born in Nottinghamshire in 1616. He...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Houldere Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Houldere family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Houlderes to arrive in North America: Christopher Holder settled in Boston in 1656, later moving to Newport R.I.; Elizabeth Holder settled in Virginia with her husband, John, in 1638; Nicholas and Meltih Holder settled in Barbados in 1679 with their servants..