| ![Show Contents]() Meiles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Meiles was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Meiles family lived at or near a mill having derived from the Old English word mylen, which meant mill. 1 2 Early Origins of the Meiles familyThe surname Meiles was first found in Hampshire. However, one branch of the family was found at Barford in Warwickshire since early times. " Under the chancel [in the church of Barford] is a vault for the family of Mills, to members of whom are five urns on pedestals in the chancel wall." 3 "This name is mostly confined to the southern half of England. Its chief homes are in Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hants, and Warwickshire. It is rare or infrequent in the south - west of England, where, in Cornwall and Devon, its place is to some extent supplied by Mill." 4 Some of the first records of the family include: Margery Mylys who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1273; 5 and John Myls was listed in London in 1336. 6 Early History of the Meiles familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meiles research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1593, 1604, 1621, 1645, 1659, 1660, 1676, 1683, 1695, 1707, 1736, 1776, 1788, 1804, 1809, 1811, 1817, 1826, 1833 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Meiles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Meiles Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Meiles have been found, including Mills, Mylles, Meiles and others. Early Notables of the Meiles familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Myles, English politician, Member of Parliament for Coventry in 1593; John Mylles (c. 1604-1676), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Oxford University in 1659 and 1660; John Myles (Miles), (c. 1621-1683), Welsh-born cleric who upon the Restoration left Wales for the Plymouth colony in the 1660s, founder of Swansea, Massachusetts; and John Mill (c. 1645-1707), an English theologian from Shap in Westmorland, best known for his Greek New Testament.Alfred Mills (1776-1833), the English draughtsman was a skilful designer of illustrations to small books of juvenile instruction, such as 'Pictures of Roman...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meiles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Meiles family to Ireland
Some of the Meiles family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Meiles familyFor many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Meiles were among those contributors: Cornelius Mill settled in Virginia in 1652; along with Edward in 1654; James in 1741; John in 1637; Lewis in 1642; Mary in 1704; Thomas in 1635; William in 1663. They also settled in Barbados, Philadelphia, Charletown.
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Honor virtutis pretium
Motto Translation: Honour is the reward of virtue.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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England
Scotland
Ireland
