Wendover History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Wendover was first found in Buckinghamshire at Wendover, a market-town and parish, and formerly an unincorporated borough, in the union of Wycombe, hundred of Aylesbury. "The manor was given by Henry II. to Faramus de Boulogne, and was subsequently in the possession of the Fiennes; of Sir John Molins; Alice Perrers, a favourite of Edward III. Roger de Wendover, historiographer to Henry II.; and Richard, Bishop of Rochester in the reign of Henry III., were natives of the place. " 1

Wendover was actually an ancient Saxon village which was known as Waendofran c. 970 but by the the Domesday Book of 1086 it was known as Wendoure. 2 The place name was derived from the name of the stream, a Celtic river-name meaning "white waters." 3

Three unnamed Norman nobles were under-tenants to the King for Wendover in 1086, an important village which would later become a market town where Oliver Cromwell would stay at the Red Lion.

The aforementioned Roger de Wendover (d. 1236), was "chronicler and monk of St. Albans, and was probably a native of Wendover, Buckinghamshire, for in one of the manuscripts of his chronicle he is styled 'Rogerus Wendovre de Wendovre.' He was perhaps near of kin to Richard of Wendover (d. 1252), physician to Gregory IX, who seems to have been connected with St. Albans, for at his death in 1252 he left the abbey a crucifix given him by the pope." 4

Later in Essex, John de Wenovre was listed in the Feet of Fines in 1341 and Nicholas Wendover was listed in the Feet of Fines in 1470. 5