Show ContentsMeadors Surname History

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Extended Surname History Download (PDF) - Letter Size

Extended Surname History Download (PDF) - Letter Size

Etymology of Meadors

What does the name Meadors mean?

The name Meadors is a derivative of the Old English word "meodu," meaning "mead," or the Latin "medarius," meaning "a maker or seller of mead." 1 Another source postulates the name was "perhaps a maker of metheglin or mead." 2

An Old Ballad notes: "The meader walks forth with his scythe on his shoulder." 3

Early Origins of the Meadors family

The surname Meadors was first found in Oxfordshire where Alexander le Meder was listed in 1180. Later Alexander le Medier was recorded in 1200 and Alexander Medarius was registered in the Pipe Rolls for Berkshire in 1188. We presume that all of these entries are the same person.

In 1332 Thomas Meder was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Surrey. John Medemaker was found in Norfolk in 1332. 1

Early History of the Meadors family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meadors research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Meadors History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meadors Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meador, Meader, Meadur, Medur, Medor, Meder, Medder and many more.

Early Notables of the Meadors family

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

Meadors Ranking

In the United States, the name Meadors is the 9,210th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Meadors family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Ambrose Meader, who settled in Virginia in 1636; Nich Meader, who came to Virginia in 1638; John Meader, who came to New Hampshire in 1648; John Meader, who came to New England in 1676.

Contemporary Notables of the name Meadors (post 1700)+

  • Nathan Malik "Nate" Meadors (b. 1997), American football safety who is a free agent
  • Allen Coats Meadors (b. 1947), American educator and administrator, Chancellor of Penn State Altoona (1994-1999), University of North Carolina-Pembroke (1999-2009) and University of Central Arkansas (2009-2011)
  • Marynell Meadors (b. 1943), American women's basketball head coach and general manager of the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association
  • Onnie O. Meadors, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Kentucky State House of Representatives 82nd District, 1973 5
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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