Plowden History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsIn ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Plowden surname lived in Plowden, a hamlet in the parish of Lydbury North, Shropshire. The local dates back to 1252 when it was first listed as Plaueden and literally means "valley where play or sport takes place," from the Old English words "plaga" + "denu." 1 Early Origins of the Plowden familyThe surname Plowden was first found in Shropshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Plowden. Traditionally, they held these estates at the time of the Norman Conquest, but the first record is of Sir Roger Plowden who accompanied King Richard on his Crusade to the Holy Land and was present at the siege of Acre (1191). For his gallantry he was awarded by the King an augmentation of two fleur-des-lys on his Coat of Arms, a distinction the family has borne ever since. 2 "The name occurs upon all county records from the reign of Henry III." 2 Early History of the Plowden familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Plowden research. Another 160 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1518, 1562, 1585, 1590, 1594, 1632, 1649, 1659, 1664 and 1829 are included under the topic Early Plowden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Plowden Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Plowden 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. The variations of the name Plowden include: Plowden, Plowdon, Ploughden, Ploweden, Plough and many more. Early Notables of the Plowden familyDistinguished members of the family include
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 Plowden or a variant listed above: Plowden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Plowden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
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: Quod tibi, hoc alteri Motto Translation: That is for thee, not the other.
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