This very interesting surname describes a medieval trade, but not one recognizeable from the spelling form. It is of Germanic origins although probably introduced by the Normans after the 1066 invasion of Britain, and describes a maker or carver of stone feed troughs! In later years the name would have described one who molded by casting in iron, but in the ancient times 'to mould' was a creative art, and described a particularly skilled mason. The origination is from the German 'moldau' and the name is recorded there as Molden, Moulden, Moldenhauer and Mollenhauer. The earliest recordings that we have been able to find are from 16th century English church recordings, but it is probable that earlier recordings maybe found in the medieval county rolls. A coat of arms was granted to the family in circa 1612. This has the blazon of a gold field charged with three red bars, and in chief a canton ermines. The crest is an arm embowed, clutch a sword dexter bendways, point down, the hilt and pommel in gold. Recordings of the surname include Roberti Molder, father of Jaine Molder, who was christened at St Andrews Church, Enfield, Middlesex, on July 30th 1581, and John Mulder, who married Ann Wardle at St Pauls Church, Covent Garden, on April 21st 1700. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edmund Moulder, which was dated April 8th 1559, a witness at St Matthews Church, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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