Show ContentsMulleneaux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Mulleneaux is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mulleneaux family lived in Lancashire. The name however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Molineaux-Sur-Seine, near Rouen, in Normandy.

Early Origins of the Mulleneaux family

The surname Mulleneaux was first found in Lancashire as "an ancient Norman family, who have been possessed of the manor of Sefton, in this county, from the period of the Conquest, or very soon afterwards: it was held as a knight's fee, as of the Castle of Lancaster." 1 William de Molines was the first recorded ancestor. "Previously to the Conquest, 'Sextune,' one of the original parishes of Lancashire, was held by five thanes. The family of Molyneux or Molines subsequently settled here. William des Molines, so named from Moulines, a town of Bourbonnois, in France, is mentioned in the Norman Chronicles as a man of noble origin, held in high esteem by the Duke William, afterwards William I. of England. In the roll of Battle Abbey, his name stands the eighteenth in order; and soon after the Conquest, he acquired, by gift of Roger de Poictou, the lordships of Sefton, Thornton, and Kerden, of which he made Sefton his chief seat. " 2

We now wish to draw the reader's attention to the township of Netherton in the parish of Sefton. "Sir William Molyneux, who received the honour of knighthood in the 46th of Henry III., gave by a deed without date, to William, son of his brother Roger, certain lands in Netherton, to hold by knight's service and the yearly rent of one halfpenny; and Sir William, a member of the same family, gave lands in Netherton to his son, John, about the reign of Richard II. The township is still the property of the family of Molyneux." 2

Over in Kirby more records of the family were found. "Adam de Molynes, lord of Sefton, in the reign of William II. married Annotta, heiress of Benedict, son of Roger Gernet; and this place has ever since remained in the family of Molyneux, of Sefton." 2

The parish of Altcar in Lancashire has an interesting feature of the family's history. "Little Altcar is a hamlet adjacent to Formby; and Altcar Hall is an ordinary farmhouse, over the door of which were formerly the arms of the noble family of Molyneux." 2

"Croxteth Hall, [in West Derby, Lancashire] formerly called Barret's Hall, the chief seat of the earl of Sefton, is situated in this township on the borders of Croxteth Park, from which it takes its name. The Molyneux family acquired it in Henry VI's reign, when Sir Richard Molyneux was steward of the manor, and about 1540 was one of the chief residences of the Molyneux family." 3

Early History of the Mulleneaux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mulleneaux research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1594, 1598, 1616, 1620, 1624, 1636, 1651, 1654, 1656, 1685, 1693, 1696, 1698, 1699, 1702 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Mulleneaux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mulleneaux Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Molinieux, Molinaux, Molineaux, Molineux, Molinex and many more.

Early Notables of the Mulleneaux family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Molyneux of Horton; Emery Molyneux (d. 1598), English Elizabethan maker of globes, mathematical instruments and ordnance; Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux (1594-1636); Richard Molyneux, 2nd Viscount...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mulleneaux Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mulleneaux family to Ireland

Some of the Mulleneaux 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.


Mulleneaux migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mulleneaux Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Mulleneaux, (Mollineux, Mullineu), English cotton spinner who was convicted in Salford, Manchester, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa


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