MEREDITH
Meredith is a surname of Welsh origin, found predominantly in the British Isles and in other English-speaking countries. The name is derived from an ancient personal name in the Welsh language. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used to identify the descendants of a forebear named Maredudd, a personal name that has been recorded to mean either “great lord” or “sea lord”. The surname thus reflects a lineage associated with nobility and leadership.
Historical records show that the name was used for individuals connected with early Welsh royalty. It is linked to Margetud, a king of Dyfed in the seventh century, and to Meddargs ap Bleddyn, a prince of Powys who died in 1132. The elements of the name belong to Olde Welsh and translate as “great chief”. The personal name itself is thought to be pre‑Roman, although its exact origins have been lost to time. A modern reference to the name is commonly taken from the figure of Meddargs ap Bleddyn, who is recorded as a significant historical figure.
Throughout history, the surname has appeared in various forms. Recognised variants include Merdue, Mordue, Merriday, Merredy and Merridew. The first documented spelling outside of Wales is Thomas Merydewe in the 1379 Poll Tax register for Yorkshire. Another later variation is John Meredaye, formerly known as John Meredith, appearing in records from St Michaels Cornhill in London in 1598.
In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, members of the Meredith family held prominent positions. Notable individuals include Richard Meredith, who served as Lord‑Deputy of Ireland between 1584 and 1594, and Sir William Meredyth, who was the First Baron Meredyth in the peerage of Ireland and a Member of Parliament for Drogheda. He was also a prominent supporter of William E. Gladstone.
The heraldic grant for the Meredith name was awarded to the brother of Griffith Ap Conan, a prince of North Wales. The blazon describes a quartered shield, argent and gules, with four lions passant counterchanged. This coat of arms is a distinct symbol associated with the Meredith lineage.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Meredith has remained a marker of Welsh heritage and, more broadly, of a family line that originated from a notable Welsh king and was later recognised across the British Isles. Its continued presence in historical and contemporary records attests to its enduring legacy.
Typical given names associated with the Meredith surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Janet
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Meredith in...
Braille
⠍⠑⠗⠑⠙⠊⠞⠓
Morse
--..-..-....-....
Semaphore
There are approximately 13,328 people named Meredith in the UK. That makes it the 674th most common surname in Britain. Around 205 in a million people in Britain are named Meredith.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Meredith
- Burgess Meredith - American film and television actor (1907 to 1997)
- George Meredith - Novelist and poet of the Victorian era (1828 to 1909)
- Anna Meredith - Composer and performer of electronic and acoustic music
- Billy Meredith - Welsh football player (1874 to 1958)
- David Lloyd Meredith - Actor (1933 to 2008)
- Bryn Meredith - Welsh rugby union player
- Jack Meredith - Sprint athlete
- Colin Meredith - Speedway rider
- Trevor Meredith - Football player
- Leonard Meredith - Racing cyclist (1882 to 1930)
- Louisa Anne Meredith - -Australian writer and illustrator (1812 to 1895)
- Edmund Allen Meredith - Canadian civil servant (1817 to 1899)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.