Mildreth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Mildreth

Mildreth is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came 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 Mildreth family

Early History of the Mildreth family

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

Mildreth Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Mildreth has been recorded under many different variations, including Mildred, Mildreth, Mildredd, Mildryth, Meldred, Meldreth, Meldryth, Meldryd, Mildrath and many more.

Early Notables of the Mildreth family

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

Migration of the Mildreth family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Mildreth or a variant listed above: Charles Mildred settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1838.