Moulding Origin?

(This was produced by “The Historical Research Center, Inc”. It sounds like speculation to me but is interesting. Can they back up their imaginative theory with evidence?!)

The English surname Moulding, and its variant Moulden, is of matronymic origin, being one of those names that was based on the first name of the mother. During the Middle Ages, when the system of surnames first developed, nothing could be more natural than for children in the community to be known by the name of one of their parents. Names of patronymic origin, that is, ones which were based on the first name of the father, were much more common, matronymics being relatively unusual. In this case, the name literally means “the son of Mould or Mold”, Mold being a variant of Mathilda (the suffix “en” or “ing” is a diminutive ending). The feminine name of Mathilda was first introduced into England at the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The wife of William I was Queen Mathilda.

This personal name is derived from the Germanic “Mathildis”, composed of “mahti”, meaning “might”, and “hildi”, meaning “battle/strife”. Mathilda became one of the most popular of female names, rivaled only by Alice. In England, in certain areas, this French name became Mahild, Mould, Molde, and Maud. In Yorkshire it was even rendered as Moule, the “d” being dropped. Instances of the personal name Mathilda can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. By the thirteenth century, this name was increasingly being used as a surname, thus, in the Hundred Rolls of 1379 there is a reference to a Hugh Mold who lived in Worcestershire. Catherine Mulden sailed on the “Washington” from Liverpool in 1851 bound for New York. The blazon of arms described below is associated with the name or a variant.

BLAZON OF ARMS: Sable, two bars wavy, in chief a lion passant guardant, all argent. Translation: The lion in heraldry is a symbol of Majesty and Kingship. It also signifies Beware to the Foe.

CREST: A demi-lion rampant guardant or.

MOTTO: Semper verus. Translation: Always true.

ORIGIN: ENGLAND