Grundle

Recorded in the varied spellings of Grundy, Grundale, Grundle, Gundell, Grundill, Gundrey, Goundry, and possibly others, this unusual and interesting name is of Norman French origin. It is found chiefly in Lancashire and other northern counties of England. Introduced as 'Gondri' and 'Gundric' after the battle of Hastings in 1066 and the subsequent invasion, the name was composed of the Germanic elements 'gund' meaning 'battle', and 'ric', meaning 'power'. Early baptismal names were usually distinctive, and their elements were often associated with the gods of fire, water and war. The first recording of the personal name is in its Latinized form of Gundricus in Hertfordshire, c.1100. The surname like most, is 13th century (see below), and examples include James Grundy, of Rumworth, Lancashire, in the Wills Records at Chester in 1579, John Grundy of Astley, in the parish of Leigh in 1587. Other examples of recordings taken from surviving church registers of the period, include Elizabeth Grundle who married Daniell Webster at St Mary's church, Lancaster, on February 10th 1714, and Betty Grundell, the daughter of Henry Grundell, christened at St Mary's church, Manchester, on July 4th 1756. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Grundy, which was dated 1296, in "Records of Roxburghshire", Scotland, during the reign of John Balliol of Scotland, 1292 - 1296. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.