Topics

• About the Merredew One-Name Study
• Variants
• Origin of the surname
• Historical occurrences
• Distribution of the name
• Data
• Contact Details

About the Merredew One-Name Study

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.

Variants

Merredew, Meredew, Merridew, Meridew, Merrydew, Merydew, Merriden, Merridan, Merydue, Merridan

Origin of the surname

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. But on re thinking about this it is possible that the name started in Wales as Meredydd which seems by 1700 to have evolved to Meredeth in Wales, in Shopshire this is also the case but also to Meriden but as yet I haven't found any direct generation name changes to Merredew.

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'.

The Oxford Names Companion 2002

'Meredith Welsh from the personal name of Meredydd or the more commonly, Maredudd. The OW for is Moretiud, of which the first element may mean 'pomp', splendour and the secord is udd lord. Var Merredy, Merriday, Merridew'

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.

Origins of the name Merredew/Merriden

Surrey Place Names – 1982 p.272

Merriden Farm, Wotton Hundred, Dorking Parish Hamlet of Coldharbour, ‘is Murydene 1249 Feet of Fines, Merydene 1373 Endowments, Merryden 1385, Myryeden c1400 Norfolk, Mereden 1620 Endowments. ‘Pleasant Valley, myrige, denu. Identical in origin with Marden infa 318.

P 318 Marden Park, Tandridge Hundred, Godstone Parish, is Meryden 1321 Feet of Fines, Muryden 1344 Penhurst, Muridene, Murydene 1349, A Parish History of Godstone, Uveldale Lambert 1929; Meredenne 13554 Ipm Calender of Inquisitions Post Mortem; -den 1355 Feet of Fines, -dene 1401 Feet of Fines, Mardeyne 1622, Surrey Archaeological Society Collections; Marden al.Mardyn 1738, Recovery Rolls.

Historical occurrences

Nearly all early references are to Merreden such as this list:-

1472 John Merydewe, Cambridge - PCC

1489 John Merriden/Merden alias More of Wing, BKM - PCC

1524 Robert Merriden, Isehampstead, BKM - PCC

1533 William Merdon, Farnham, SRY - Surrey Wills abstracts

1538 Agnes d of Rychard Morden married James son of John Del at Chesham, BKM

1540 William s of Nicholas Mereden bap Chesham, BKM

1540 Frances s Robert Morden buried at Chesham

1551 John Mereden, Elstree, HRT - Hertfordshire will

1559 William Merden, Reigate, SRY - Surrey Wills abstracts

1564 Henry Sharman married Elizabeth Meriden, Dunchurch, WAR

1566 Robert Merede of Latimers married Anne Protris of Langley at Chesham

1584 Edward s Richard Meriden bap St Mary Shrewsbury, SAL

1584 Frances Meridew buried St Editha, Tamworth, STS

1589 Richard Meryden, Elstree, HRT - LND Consistory Court

1589 William s Michael Meridew bap St Lawrence, Foleshill, WAR

1590 Thomas Ball married Alice Meryden, Uxbridge

1594 Hunt, Ralph, son of Thomas, Manchester, Lancashire, shearman, to Richard Merreden, Cutlers' Company, - Apprenticeships

1596 Henry Meryden married Margaret Sutton Uxbridge

1602 Nicholas Marden, Reigate, SRY - SRY Wills Abstracts

1609 Henry Mereden married Elspeth Hoan, St John the Baptist, Croydon, SRY

1609 Nicholas Merydewe buried, Foleshill, WAR

1616 Eliz Mereden alias Billnge of Woodford, NTH - PCC

1623 Richard Merrideau married Elizabeth Dickman, Everleigh, WIL

1625 Francis s Mr Edward Meriden buried St Mary Shrewsbury, SAL

1630 Elizabeth Meridew a servant buried Holy Trinity, Coventry, WAR

1632 Joseph Mereddeth married Anne Meryden St Mary Shrewsbury, SAL

1634 Joan d Nicholas Merridew buried Ashby Parva, LEI

1638 Thomas Meriden, Baschurch, SAL - Litchfield will

1644 William son of Robert Merriden baptised Potton, BDF

1647 Elizabeth d John and Ann Meredew, bap Ashby Parva, LEI

1648 William Meridewe of Foleshill, WAR - Litchfield adm

1655 Robert s William Meryden bap St John the Baptist, Croydon, SRY

1655 Abraham Meriden buried St John the Baptist, Croydon, SRY

1659 Owen Meryden, Shrewsbury, WIL - PCC

1660 Jane d of William Meridew married Robert Ford, Urchfont, WIL

1662 Apr 22 Elizabeth Meridew married Thomas Wiltshire, Everleigh, WIL

1662 Apr Joan Meredew buried, Everleigh, WIL

1663 Thomas Mearedew married Anna Dunton Beaconsfield, BKM

1664 Thomas Meridew buried, Everleigh, WIL

1668 Edward Meriden married Mary Tomkys St Mary Shrewsbury, SAL

1668 William Meredew s Richard Meredew, Bap Kenwyn, CON

1671 Nicholas Merridew, Ashby Parva, LEI - Leicestershire will

1672 William son William Meredew bap Clewer, BRK

1672 Richard Meridew married Alice Whelpley, Urchfont, WIL

1674 William Merredew, Easterton, WIL - Wiltshire will

1674 William Meridue buried Market Lavington, WIL

1678 Richard Meriden s Mr Robert & Judith Meriden St Chad, Shrewsbury, SAL

1678 Elizabeth d John Mereden of Willenhall bap St Peter, Wolverhampton, STS

1678 Sep 18 Brimsmead, William s of William of Taunton Deane, SOM to William Meriden Cutlers' Company - Apprenticeships

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 - Apprenticeships

1694 William s William & Mary Merriden bap St James, Westminster, MDX

1697 William Meridew of Burnham, BKM m Ann Ives of Beaconsfield, BKM Chapel Royal, New Windsor, BRK

1698 John Meriden buried Rushall, STS

1699 Anne Meriden married Thomas Watson, Rushall, STS

1700 William Meredew of Wooburn, BDF married Elizabeth Bampton, Beaconsfield, BKM

1702 Mar 27 John Merriden s John, Potton, BDF, to Walter Hutchinson, Poulters Company - Apprentice

1702 May 30 Corbett, Thomas, son of Lawrence, Southgate, London/Middlesex, gentleman, to John Merreden, Cutlers' Company, - Apprenticeships

1707 Sarah d Thomas Meredew bap Clewer, BRK

1707 Edward s Richard & Mary Meriden buried Codall, STS

1709 Mary wife of William Meredew buried Datchet, BRK

1710 Mary d John Merredew buried Clewer, BRK

1712 Lydia wife of William Merrydew buried Bitteswell, LEI

1712 Margery Meridew, Hurstbourne Tarrant, HAM - HAM probate

1716 Stephen Merrydew, Littleton, WIL - London Consistory Court

1729 John Meriden married Phoebe Holms, St Peter Wolverhampton, STS

1735 Dec 09 Thomas Merrydew married Elizabeth Holmes, Figheldean, WIL

1737 Sep 25 Betty d Thomas & Elizabeth Merridew bap Figheldean, WIL

1740 George Meridew alias Meridith, Long Itchington, WAR - Inventory PROB 31

1740 Mary Meridew buried Enford, WIL

1743 Henry s Robert & Elizabeth Merrydew bap Hurstbourne Tarrant HAM

1757 John s John & Elizabeth Meredew, buried Churchover, WAR

1758 Henry Meridaw or Meridew of St James, MDX - PCC

1758 William Merrydew married Mary Avis, Old Windsor BRK

1759 Isaac Clarke & Mary Meredew married Isleworth, MDX

1761 Oct 02 Gent James, s of Joseph, St Mary le Bow, LND gent, to William Meriden, Poulters' Company - Apprenticeships

1764 Dec 24 William Merrydew married Mary Ginger, Winterbourne Stoke, WIL

1765 Feb 24 Nehemiah Meridew married Mary Offer, Enford, WIL

1766 John Meredew married Patience Fulluck, Gatton, SRY

1766 May 18 Mary d Nehemiah & Mary Meridew, bap Enford, WIL

1767 John s William & Mary Merrydue bap Winterbourne Stoke, WIL

1768 Joseph Meredew banns Mary Oadhams - Churchover, WAR

1768 Joannes s of Thomas & Marjorie Meredin bap RC Lincoln Inn Fields, Holborn

1769 Thomas Merridew married Ann Tepper – St Michael, Coventry, WAR

1770 or 6 Thomas Merridew Gosford St. Coventry, weaver - Coventry Record Office Freeman's Index

1771 Leah d Amariah & Flora Merrrydue bap Bowchalk, WIL

1771 Thomas Meridew & Elizabeth Brice married Heston, MDX

1774 Arthur Wollwort s William & Mary Merridew bap St Michael, Coventry, WAR

1776 John Meredew, Horsham, SSX - PCC

1778 William Meredew of Clewer, BRK & Elizabeth Homan of Holborn married Holborn St Andrew

1784 Nathaniel Merridew Cross Cheaping Ward Printer/bookseller & stationer - Coventry Record Office Freeman's Index

1785 John Merredew s of Joseph Merredew married Margaret Owen St Dunstan in the West, LND

1786 Elizabeth d Joseph & Elizabeth Merredew of Theobald Rd bap Holborn St George the Martyr

1801 Thomas Merredew otp married Elizabeth Dowsett of Croydon, Bletchingley, SRY

1801 Elizabeth d Edmund & Elizabeth Merredew bap St John the Baptist, Croydon, SRY

1806 John Merredew aged 36 buried St John the Baptist, Croydon, SRY

1822 Henry Merridew Cross Cheaping Ward Printer/bookseller & stationer - Coventry Record Office Freeman's Index

1827 William Meredew, Clewer, BKM - PCC

1828 Elizabeth Meredew, Isleworth, MDX - LND Consistory Court

Sources - City of London Apprenticeships Year range: 1442 to 1850, wills and Parish Registers.

Distribution of the name

The name Merredew occurs in:- Bedfordshire (BDF), Berkshire (BRK), Buckinghamshire (BKM), Cambridgeshire (CAM) Hampshire (HAM), Leicestershire (LEI), London/Middlesex (LND/MDX), Suffolk (SFK), Surrey (SRY), Warwickshire (WAR), Wiltshire (WIL).

Merriden in Shropshire (SAL), Staffordshire (STS) Herefordshire (HEF) & Hertfordshire (HRT])

Data

I have the following data:-

Wills pre 1858 many references and some copies, one of the earliest is 1474 a PCC will of a John Merydewe of Wisbech, CAM these are now in the Guild Archive

Wills post 1858 an index to 1950 and administrations these are in the Guild Archive.

GRO Indexes

Births - 1837 - 2005 these are in the Guild Archive

Marriages - 1837 - 2005 these are in the Guild Archive now with date of marriage and church and which family they belong to.

Deaths 1837 - 2005 these are in the Guild Archive

Plus many families in my Genealogy Progamme.

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Mrs Elizabeth Holliday
E-mail:

This page last updated 5 May 2010.

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