Meadus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Meadus surname lived in or near a meadow. The surname Meadus is derived from the Old English words mæd and mædwe, which both mean meadow. The surname Meadus belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees.

Early Origins of the Meadus family

The surname Meadus was first found in Suffolk at Witnesham, a parish, in the union of Woodbridge, hundred of Carlford. "The family of Meadows, from a branch of which the present Earl Manvers is descended, have had a seat here since the time of Richard III." ^[1]

Important Dates for the Meadus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meadus research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meadus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meadus Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Meadus are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Meadus include: Meadowes, Meadows, Meadow, Meddows, Meddus, Meadus, Medus, Medis and many more.

Early Notables of the Meadus family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Meadus family to Ireland

Some of the Meadus family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meadus migration to Canada

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Meadus or a variant listed above:

Meadus Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Edmund Meadus of Poole, Dorset, settled in Newfoundland in the 1830's ^[2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Meadus (post 1700)

• Eric Meadus (1931-1970), English artist; he exhibited in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (1971), Southampton City Art Gallery (1996), Tudor House Museum, Southampton (1999)

Citations

1. ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
2. ^ Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0