Show ContentsIncleden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Incleden

What does the name Incleden mean?

Incleden is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Incleden family lived in Cambridgeshire, at Ickleton, parish, in the union of Linton, hundred of Whittlesford. "This place was the seat of a Benedictine nunnery, founded in the reign of Henry II. The church, supposed to have been built before the Conquest, contains 400 sittings." 1 2

Another source notes that the family came from Ingleden in Kent. 3

Early Origins of the Incleden family

The surname Incleden was first found in Cambridgeshire where they were conjecturally descended from Hardwin of Scales, a Norman knight who held the mamor of Ickleton from Count Eustace. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Robert de Incledene in Devon at that time. 5 Richard Igolynden and John Igulden were listed as holding lands in 1475 and 1536. 3

Early History of the Incleden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Incleden research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1692, 1730, 1738, 1745, 1758, 1765, 1795 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Incleden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Incleden Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Ickleton, Icledon, Ickledon, Icleton, Iggulden, Iggelden, Igguldon, Iggelsden, Igglesden, Igglesdon, Incleden and many more.

Early Notables of the Incleden family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Benjamin Incledon (1730-1796), a noted genealogist, "baptised at Pilton, near Barnstaple, Devonshire, 6 June 1730, was the second son, but the successor to the estate, of Robert Incledon, of Pilton House, by his second wife, Penelope, daughter of John Sanford of Ninehead, Somerset. The father was buried at Pilton on 9 Dec. 1758, aged 83, and the mother on 30 April 1738. Their son was educated at Blundell's school, Tiverton, and in...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Incleden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Incleden family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Incleden or a variant listed above: Elizabeth, Jane, John, and Sarah Iggleden who settled in Massachusetts in 1634.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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