The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname

GRUNDIE

The history of the most ancient Anglo/Saxon surname of Grundie reaches into the chronicles of the Saxon race. The Saxon Chronicle, compiled by monks in the 10th century, now reposes in the British Museum.

   History researchers have examined reproductions of such ancient manuscripts as the Domesday Book (1086), the Ragman Rolls (1291-1296), the Curia Regis Rolls, The Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, parish register, baptismals, tax records and other ancient records and other ancient documents. They found the first record of the name Grundie in Lancashire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A. D.

   Different spellings were encountered in the research of your surname. Throughout the centuries your name, Grundie, occurred in many records, manuscripts and documents but not always with your exact spelling. From time to time the surname included the spellings Grundy, Grundie, and these variations in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes and church officials, often traveling great distances, even from other countries, frequently spelt the names phonetically. As a result the same person would be recorded differently on birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates as well as the other numerous records recording life’s events. 

   The Saxon race gave birth to many English surnames not the least of which was the surname Grundie. The Saxons were invited into England by the ancient Britons of the 4th century. A fair skinned people their home was the Rhine valley, some as far north east as Denmark They were led by two brothers, General/Commanders Hengist and Horsa. The Saxons settled in the county of Kent, on the south east coast of England. Gradually, they spread north and westward, and during the next four hundred years farced the Ancient Britons back into Wales and Cornwall in the west, and Cumberland to the north. The Angles occupied the eastern coast, the south folk in Suffolk, north folk in Norfolk Under Saxon rule England prospered under a series of High Kings, the last of which was Harold.

   In 1066, the Normans invaded from France and were victorious at the Battle of Hastings. In 1070, Duke William took an army of 4O, 000 north and wasted the northern counties, farcing many rebellious Norman nobles and Saxons to flee over the border into Scotland. Meanwhile, the Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under hostile Norman rule, and they also moved northward to the midlands, Lancashire and Yorkshire away from the Norman oppression.

   Nevertheless, this notable English family name, Grundie, emerged as an influential name in the county of Lancashire where
they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Bury with manor and estates in that shire. They were seated in
Lancashire far many centuries and by the 13th century had also branched to Ramsworth, Ashley-in-Leigh; Farnworth, and Manchester.
They later branched to Turgarton in Nottingham, and The Oaks in Leicestershire. Their present family seat is at Park House.
Notable amongst the family at this time was Grundy of Bury.

   The surname Grundie flourished during the turbulent middle ages, contributing greatly to the cultural development of
England. During the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by plagues, famine, and religious conflict.
Protestantism, the newly found political fervour of Cromwellianism and democratic government, and the remnants of the Roman
Church rejected all non believers, each jealously claiming adherents to their own cause. The changing rule caused burnings,
hangings and banishments of all sects and creeds, first one then another. Many families were freely "encouraged" to migrate to
Ireland, or to the "colonies". Some were rewarded with grants of lands, others were banished.

   Some families were farced to migrate to Ireland where they became known as the Adventurers far land in Ireland. Protestant settlers "undertook " to keep their faith, being granted lands previously owned by the Catholic Irish. There is no evidence that the family name migrated to Ireland, but this does not preclude the possibility of their scattered migration to that country.

   The New World offered better opportunities and some migrated voluntarily, some were banished mostly far religious reasons. Some left Ireland disillusioned with promises unfulfilled, but many left directly from England, their home territories. Some also moved to the European continent.

   Members of the family name Grundie sailed aboard the huge armada of three masted sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships such as the Hector, the Dove and the Rambler, were pestilence ridden, sometimes 30% to 40% of the passenger list never reaching their destination, their numbers reduced by dysentery, cholera, small pox and typhoid.

   Amongst the first settlers in North America, which could be considered a kinsman of the surname Grundie, or a variable spelling of the family name was John Grundy who settled in Virginia in 1635; Charles, Edmund, Edward, James Grundy, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1870.

   From the port of entry many settlers made their way west, joining the wagon trains to the prairies or to the west coast. During the American War of  Independence, many loyalists made their way north to Canada about 1790, and became known as the United Empire loyalists.

   Contemporary notables of this surname, Grundie, include many distinguished contributors; Sir Edward Grundy, Air Marshall; John Grundy and Rupert Grundy, Consulting Engineers.

   Research has determined the above Coat of arms to be the most ancient recorded for the family surname Grundie.
 

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