Show ContentsWendon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Wendon Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Wendon

What does the name Wendon mean?

The illustrious surname Wendon originates in Essex at Wenden-Lofts, a civil parish in the Uttlesford district and/or Wendens-Ambo, a nearby parish. "This parish, which is supposed to have derived the adjunct to its name from a former proprietor." 1 Wendens-Ambo "appears to have derived its affix from the consolidation of two parishes consequent on the destruction of the parochial church of Little Wenden. " 1

As far as the origin of the name itself, it was from the "Old English dún, a hill; the first element probably being the personal name Wena (Old English wena, hope): if the -den were really original (certainly Domesday Book as Wendena) 2 it, of course, would be Old English denu, a valley] In 1261-2 the manor of Wendon (Essex) belonged to Mauricius de Berkeley." 3

"The Wendons and Wendens derive their names from parishes in the county." 4

Early Origins of the Wendon family

The surname Wendon was first found in Essex where the Pipe Rolls of 1179 includes an entry for John de Wendon. Again in Essex, William de Wendenne was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1207 and in Sussex, we found Richard ate Wendene in 1341. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include entries for Peter de Wendon, Lincolnshire; and Alex de Wenden, Cambridgeshire. 6

Early History of the Wendon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wendon research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1626, 1652 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Wendon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wendon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wendon, Wenden and others.

Early Notables of the Wendon family

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

Wendon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet
  • Mr. Anthony Wendon, (Joseph Gregory), British settler convicted in Essex, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "William and Ann" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 7
Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Wendon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook

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