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