Meldreth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Meldreth

The name Meldreth is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from the female personal name Mildred, which is derived from the Old English forename Mildthryth. This was a common name during the medieval period due to the popularity of St. Mildred. 1

St Mildryth or Mildryth (d. 700?), was a "saint and abbess, younger sister of St. Milburg, who was destined by her mother, Eormenburga or Domneva, to a conventual life. Mildred, who was a girl of excellent disposition, was therefore sent to the nunnery of Chelles, about twelve miles to the east of Paris. While she was there a kinsman of the abbess Wilcoma wished to marry her; the abbess favoured his suit, and persecuted Mildred for refusing him; she shut Mildred into a hot oven, and kept her there for three hours, but Mildred came out unhurt. On another day the abbess beat her and tore out her hair. Mildred sent her mother a tress of her torn-out hair and a little psalter that she had written for her, with a request that her mother would help her. Eormenburga sent for her, but the abbess would not let her go. However, she escaped, and taking with her some precious relics that she had bought sailed for England. She landed at Ebbsfleet, and the stone on which she stepped on landing was impressed by her foot, and many were healed there." 2

Early Origins of the Meldreth family

Early History of the Meldreth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meldreth research. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1175, 1196, 1327 and 1379 are included under the topic Early Meldreth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meldreth Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Meldreth has undergone many spelling variations, including Mildred, Mildreth, Mildredd, Mildryth, Meldred, Meldreth, Meldryth, Meldryd, Mildrath and many more.

Early Notables of the Meldreth family

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

Migration of the Meldreth family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. 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 Meldreth were among those contributors: Charles Mildred settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1838.