Show ContentsPheldane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Pheldane is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the fields having derived from the Old English word feld, which meant field. This is a "well-known Lancashire surname." 1

Early Origins of the Pheldane family

The surname Pheldane was first found in Lancashire at Witton, a township, in the parish, union, and Lower division of the hundred, of Blackburn. "Witton House, an elegant stone edifice, is the seat of Joseph Feilden, Esq.; it is picturesquely situated, and surrounded by a finely-wooded park of 500 acres." 2

Early History of the Pheldane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pheldane research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1567, 1574, 1592, 1594, 1620, 1784, 1811, 1849, 1875 and 1884 are included under the topic Early Pheldane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pheldane Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Pheldane are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Pheldane include: Fielden, Feilden, Fieldon, Feildon, Feelden, Feeldon, Pheldon, Phelden and many more.

Early Notables of the Pheldane family

Distinguished members of the family include Randle Feldon or Fielden who died in 1594. John Fielden (1784-1849), M.P. for Oldham, was born 17 Jan. 1784 at Lane Side, Todmorden, where his father, originally a yeoman, had about the time of his birth begun cotton-spinning on a very limited scale. As a boy he worked in his father's factory, and in after years often referred to the exhaustion caused by his daily toil. He was educated sufficiently to become at seventeen a teacher in a Sunday school. His father was a Quaker and a Tory, but Fielden...
Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pheldane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pheldane family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Pheldane or a variant listed above: Thomas Fielden settled in New York in 1764; William Fielden arrived in Pennsylvania in 1860.



The Pheldane 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: Virtutis praemuim honor
Motto Translation: Praise is the prize of honor.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook