I collect all references to the name - my maiden name. It is not a common name but does appear in various parts of the country with no obvious links. My own line appears in Surrey in c1740.
Merredew, Meredew, Merridew, Meridew, Merrydew, Merydew, Merriden, Merridan, Merydue
I have never been happy with Reaney's suggestion that it is an English version of Meredith - if this was the case you would expect to find the name in those counties bordering Wales but it is not. Plus I don't regard Merryday as a variant.
My own theory is that it is based on a field name see below.
A Dictionary of British Surnames - P.H. Reaney 1961
Merridew, Merredy, Merriday: John Meridewe 1379 Yorkshire Poll Tax return. A English & Irish form of Meredith. Bardsley gives 2 examples of men called both Meredith and Meriday in 1596-8 and 1680-2.
Surnames of the United Kingdom - Henry Harrison 'that the name Merridew is probably for the French, Me're de Dieu ... and he translates 'from the dwelling by an effigy of the Mother of God'.
Earlist references to the name and as a place name
Dictionary of English Place Names
Marden, Heref & Worc. Maurdine (sic) 1086 (DB), Magewurdin 1777. 'Enclosed settlement in the district called Maund'.OE worthign
Marden, Kent. Maeredaen c1100. 'Woodland pasture for mares, or near a boundary' OE mere or (ge)maere + denn.
Marden, Wilts. Mercdene 941, Meresdene 1086 (DB). Probably 'boundary valley'. OE mearc+denu.
Marden, East, North and West, West Sussex. Meredone 1086 (DB). 'Boundary Hill@. OE (ge)maere+dun
Meriden, W. Midlands. Mereden 1230. 'Pleasant Valley' or valley where merry making takes place'. OE myrge+denu
The Coventry area is one area where the name is found.
Nearly all early references are to Merreden such as this list:-
City of London Apprenticeships
Year range: 1442 to 1850,
1594'Hunt, Ralph, son of Thomas, Manchester, Lancashire, shearman, to Richard Merreden, Cutlers' Company',
1594 Jul 24 'Alcock, James, son of John, Hanbury, Staffordshire, husbandman, to Richard Merreden, Cutlers' Company',
1597/8 Feb 14'Crowck, Thomas, son of John, Bishopric of Durham, husbandman(deceased), to Richard Merreden, Cutlers' Company',
1598/9 Mar 22'Kempe, Francis, son of Thomas, London/Middlesex, cutler, to Richard Merreden,Cutlers' Company',
1678 Sep 18 Brimsmead, William s of William of Taunton Deane, SOM to William Meriden Cutlers' Company
1684/5 Mar 12 Hunt Henry, s Anthony, citizen and weaver, to William Merriden Cutlers Company
1692 May 31 Merriden Henry s of Robert, St Giles, Cripplegate, LND corn chandler, to Richard Webb, Ironmongers Company 1700 Jun 07 William Merriden, s of Abraham, Potton, BDF carrier, to John Wibird, Poulters' Company
1702 Mar 27 John Merriden s John, Potton, BDF, to Walter Hutchinson, Poulters Company
1702 May 30 'Corbett, Thomas, son of Lawrence, Southgate, London/Middlesex, gentleman, to John Merreden, Cutlers' Company',
1702 Jul 1 Holding William, s William, Potton, BDF, husbandman, to John Merriden, Poulters Company
1761 Oct 02 Gent James, s of Joseph, St Mary le Bow, LND gent, to William Meriden, Poulters' Company
Coventry Record Office Freeman's Index
1770 or 6 Thomas Merridew Gosford St. weaver
1784 Nathaniel Merridew Cross Cheaping Ward Printer/bookseller
& stationer
1794 William Merridew Broadgate Ward Weaver
1810 John Merridew Cross Cheaping Ward Bookseller
1814 Thomas Howell Merridew Cross Cheaping Ward Stationer
1822 Henry Merridew Cross Cheaping Ward Printer/bookseller & stationer
1829 Arthur Willott Merridew Broadgate Ward Weaver
The name occurs is Surrey, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, London/Middlesex, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire
I have the following data:-
'* 'Wills pre 1858 many references and some copies the earliest is 1474 a PCC will of a John Merydewe of Wisbech, CAM
'* 'Wills post 1858 an index and copies of 105 wills and administrations these are in the Guild Archive.
GRO Indexes
'* 'Births 1137 these are in the Guild Archive
'* 'Marriages 797
'* 'Deaths 806 these are in the Guild Archive
Plus many families in my Genealogy Progamme.
For further information, contact:
Mrs Elizabeth Holliday
Caradon,
Jubilee Road,
Bridgetown,
Totnes,
Devon
TQ9 5BW
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:
This page last updated 25 February 2008.
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