Surname Meredith - Meaning and Origin

Rediscovering Meredith: An Emotional DNA Journey with iGENEA

Unveiling an ancestral lineage that spanned continents and thousands of years, undertaking a DNA test through iGENEA reconfigured my understanding of my family name, Meredith. This new perspective, steeped in historical depth, forced a deeply emotional reconsideration of family identity.

J. Meredith

Meredith: What does the surname Meredith mean?

The surname Meredith is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Welsh personal name Maredudd or Meredydd. It's a traditional Welsh first name that translates to "great lord" or "sea lord". The name comes from the elements "mór," meaning "sea" and "udd" meaning "lord" or "ruler". It was used as a patronymic surname, passed down from father to children, indicating "son of Maredudd." Over time the name evolved into its current form, Meredith. Though it started as a masculine given name, in recent years, it has been used more frequently as a feminine given name, especially outside of Wales. The surname Meredith first appeared in the 13th century.

Meredith: Where does the name Meredith come from?

The surname Meredith has Welsh origins. It is derived from the old Welsh personal name Meredydd or Maredudd, and it is a compound of two Welsh elements - "mór" meaning great and "udd" meaning lord or ruler. It literally means "great lord" or "sea lord". The usage of surnames was not common in early Welsh tradition. Surnames were often passed down the matrilineal line, and many changed with each generation based on a patriarch’s given name. Over time, the use of surnames grew more common, and Wales adopted the Western tradition of inherited surnames.

Today, the last name Meredith is common in both Wales and England. Its usage has spread around the world due to British emigration, especially during colonial times, but it is found most commonly in English-speaking nations. Despite being of Welsh origin, the name is not as prevalent in Wales as one might expect. That's because surnames in Wales became fixed quite late compared to England. It is also fairly popular in the United States, often used as a first name for girls.

Variations of the surname Meredith

The surname Meredith is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Meredydd, Meredudd or Maredudd. This Welsh name itself has been anglicized into several different forms apart from Meredith such as Merriday, Meredith, Merredith and Meridith.

In Wales, it is also common to use 'ap Maredudd' or 'ferch Maredudd' where 'ap' and 'ferch' connote 'son of' and 'daughter of' respectively. Obviously, these variants are not often seen outside Wales.

It's also worth mentioning that while Meredith is commonly used as a surname, it has also been used as a given name for both genders in the English-speaking countries.

In terms of surnames of the same origin, this can be more challenging, as unrelated families may evolve similar surnames independently. However, Meredith belongs to the category of patronymic surnames (derived from father's name) and hence, any Welsh surname which is derived from a father’s personal name can be traced back to similar origins. Some other examples of Welsh patronymics include Jones (from John), Williams (from William), and Davies (from David).

Famous people with the name Meredith

• Grey Meredith: American musician
• Nancy Meredith: American journalist and author
• Derek Meredith: former Welsh footballer
• Dougal Meredith: former Scottish footballer
• Derek Meredith: Former British actor
• Patrick Meredith: English writer
• Richard Meredith: British actor
• Jack Meredith: American rock guitarist
• Nelson Meredith: Taino chief from the Bahamas
• Richard Meredith: American architect

Other surnames

Meredig