Merredew One-Name Study

Merredew
One-Name Study

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

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.

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.

Historical occurrences

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

Distribution of the name

The name occurs is Surrey, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Warwickshire, London/Middlesex, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire

Data

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.

Contact details

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.