Surname Madland - Meaning and Origin
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Madland: What does the surname Madland mean?
The origin of the surname Madland is uncertain. Some sources suggest that it is an English surname derived from a place name in Bedfordshire. It is possible that the surname was derived from the old Latin word "maudus" which translates to "joyful". The surname could therefore have originated from a family's ancestral home being a region associated with feeling happy.
Other possible origins include a combination of two English surnames, Madd and Land. In this case, the name could have developed when a Madd and a Land married and combined the two names.
The meaning of Madland is unknown but likely refers to happy lands and joyful people. With an unknown origin and meaning, it is possible that the surname was just randomly chosen by ancestors or, as was fashionable at the time, adopted on whims into a family’s surname.
The Madland family, wherever its members may be from, share a common history of a unique surname with complex origins. Many members enjoy the mystery of not knowing the definite meaning of their family name, while others find solace in the idea of their family being associated with happy lands and joyful people.
Order DNA origin analysisMadland: Where does the name Madland come from?
The last name Madland has a relatively small presence across the globe. It is most commonly found in the United States and Canada, particularly in the midwestern and southern parts of the United States. The number of people bearing the last name Madland in the US stands at just over 1,500, with the majority of these individuals living in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
The surname is also present in a handful of other countries around the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Peru, Brazil, and Argentina. Most of the Madlands in these countries are descended from Swedish and Danish immigrants who adopted the name upon their arrival in the New World.
It is possible that the name originated in Norway, as there is a small village in the central part of the country called Madland. The earliest known father and son with the same surname lived in this area prior to the 19th century.
The Madland name is quite rare even in the countries where it is most common, so individuals who are surnamed Madland can consider themselves to be part of a distinctly small family and may want to trace their ancestry in order to understand their unique genealogy.
Variations of the surname Madland
The surname Madland is an English patronymic surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It began as a nickname for someone who lived near or on a “moorland”, from the Old English term “maedland” (Middle English “maldland” or “medland”). It can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Meadland, Melden, Madlen, and Medlin.
Variants of the surname Madland can include Maddland, Madlan, Madlanne, Maddlan, Madlin, and Melden. Common spellings are Madland, Melden, Madlen, Meadland, and Medlin. It can also be found using other surnames of similar derivations, such as Madsen, Madsen, Mead, and Meade.
Some examples of associated surnames include Madeley, Madill, Madin, Midgley, Midlam, Milam, and Meldrum. Madder and Mattar are also linked to the surname Madland, due to their common origin of Old English terms for “meadows.”
The full Madland family tree has had its branches spread throughout England since the thirteenth century. Other variants of the Madland surname can be found in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and across the English-speaking world.
Famous people with the name Madland
- Guro Kathrine Madland: Norwegian actress.
- Jan Madland: Norwegian singer and songwriter.
- Per Madland: Norwegian journalist and broadcaster.
- Lara Jean Madland: American actress.
- William Madland: American actor.
- Kim Madland: Norwegian singer and actor.
- Anette Madland: Norwegian composer and singer.
- Einar Madland: Norwegian musician and composer.
- Henrik Madland: Norwegian film director.
- Vidar Madland: Norwegian writer.