Surname Mawdlen - Meaning and Origin
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Mawdlen: What does the surname Mawdlen mean?
The last name Mawdlen has roots in English and Welsh origins. It is likely derived from a nickname meaning “prince” derived from either an old Welsh personal name or from the Middle English word mowd(e)l or maudel, from the Old French maudel, which means little prince or child.
The surname Mawdlen was first found in Worcestershire, where they held the family seat from ancient times. It is also thought to have been derived from Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, who was also called Maud, Maudlen, and Mawdlen.
The spelling of the name has varied in spelling throughout the centuries, and notable variations include Mawdlen, Madlen, Maudlen, and Malden.
The earliest record of the family name appears to be in 1166. The name was first recorded in ancient documents at Monmouthshire, where Ralf Mawdelen was recorded in 1268.
Today, Mawdlen is a common surname in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. It is also popular in the United States, where it often appears in early immigration records.
The surname is often associated with loyalty, integrity, and honesty. Those bearing the Mawdlen family name are believed to be very generous and to possess strong leadership skills.
Order DNA origin analysisMawdlen: Where does the name Mawdlen come from?
The last name Mawdlen is most commonly found in Britain and Ireland, and can also be found in smaller numbers around the world.
Mawdlen is of Welsh origin, and is derived from the personal name Madryn, a form of Mael Bearda, which meant ‘Royal Hill’ or ‘Princely Hill’. The name was popular in the Middle Ages as a given name due to its connection with royalty.
Mawdlen's popularity by the 19th century was primarily focused in Wales, although the surname appeared in records from many parts of the British Isles, including Yorkshire and Lancashire in England and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
Outside of the British Isles, Mawdlen is a common surname in the United States, as many British settlers emigrated to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mawdlen's appear with some frequency in Canada as well, with many descendants of the original settlers in Newfoundland and British Columbia.
The surname can also be found in smaller numbers in South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Today, Mawdlen is an uncommon last name, although it can be found in Wales, England, and the United States. Its continued presence offers an insight into British history and culture.
Variations of the surname Mawdlen
Mawdlen is an English surname with several potential variants, spellings, and other surnames of similar origin. The spelling Mawdlen is most commonly seen, although variations such as Madlen, Maudlin, Maudling, and even variants such as Maudlene can also be found. Variations tend to be pronunciations that are derived from either Elizabethan English or regional dialect. If used in the context of a patronymic, other potential spellings include Mawdling, Mawdly, and Mawdlyne.
Maudlin is another variation of Mawdlen, and is often used in the context of sentimentalism, which could be the origin of the surname. Other forms of the surname include the shortened form Maud, and variants such as Maudley, Momen, and Modlin. The surnames Modrell, Mudd, and Mudle can also be derived from Mawdlen, as can the Irish surnames Modela, Modie, Modely, and Moden.
Finally, Mawdlen can also be translated into French as Madeleine, and into Welsh as Modlen.This is particularly common in Wales, where Welsh surnames often derive from a patronymic, perhaps due to sorting out those speakers of different languages. There are also suggestions that Mawdlen originates from the nickname ‘Maud’, which could refer to a nun or a holy person.
Overall, the surname Mawdlen is of assorted origin, having made its way through various languages and dialects. Its French and Welsh counterparts are particularly common, and other related surnames exist in Irish, English and Welsh contexts. Variations tend to be regional or derived from Elizabethan English, and there is a suggestion that it is derived from the nickname ‘Maud’.
Famous people with the name Mawdlen
- David Mawdlen: English professional footballer
- E. Nesbit Mawdlen: British actor
- John Mawdlen: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Thomas Mawdlen: British professional cricketer
- William Mawdlen: American actor
- Bob Mawdlen: Canadian ice hockey player
- Paul Mawdlen: British actor
- Rob Mawdlen: British professional football player
- George Mawdlen: British actor
- Alex Mawdlen: Canadian television personality