Show ContentsMildmey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Mildmey is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mildmey family lived in Essex. The name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Mildme, France.

Early Origins of the Mildmey family

The surname Mildmey was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Mulsho. This family were anciently the Earls and Barons Fitzwalter seated at Moulsham Hall in that County. They were originally from a place in France of the name Mildme. One branch of the family was found at Little Baddow in Cheshire. "The church [of Little Baddow] is an ancient edifice, with a tower at the west end, and consists of a nave and chancel, in which latter is a stately monument of marble to [Sir] Henry Mildmay (1619-1692), of Graces." 1

Early History of the Mildmey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mildmey research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1593, 1596, 1619, 1621, 1626, 1640, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1660, 1664, 1669, 1676, 1692, 1871 and 1913 are included under the topic Early Mildmey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mildmey Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Mildme, Mildmay, Mildmy, Mildmee, Millmay, Mildmar, Miltmay, Meldmay, Mieldmay and many more.

Early Notables of the Mildmey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Henry Mildmay (ca. 1593-1664), Master of the Jewel Office, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1659, a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War, one of the Regicides of...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mildmey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mildmey family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Mildmey or a variant listed above: Edward Milday settled in Virginia in 1650; Thomas Mildmay arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1852.



The Mildmey Motto +

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: Alla ta hara
Motto Translation: God my help.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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