Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Mostly New Zealand
Surname/tag: Meads

Meads Family tree

This is a story about the Meads family from New Zealand and in particular the descendants and their families of Joseph Meads You can see a list of direct descendants here

Joseph Meads

A considerable amount of the data was sourced from the publication "Meads family tree" that was produced in the 1980's for the New Zealand Meads family reunion. This publication was edited by Pauline Meads & Diane Fletcher. This work was done by contacting relatives and finding out their stories and there was very little formal sources recorded. See more information here

The data now included on Wikitree includes many updates by Warren Meads who carried on the research done by Pauline and Diane. Warren has tried to supplement their work by adding official sources where possible. Warren did most of his research in the 90's and early 00's and did not return to researching until he retired in 2018 when he started the transfer of the records to WikiTree. Warren has hosted a WebTrees web site since the 1990's which he closed in February 2020 for a number of reasons including security and data privacy issues. Another big reason for Warren was he wanted to ensure there was sustainability (read getting older) in having the data freely available to every one to enjoy and contribute to research without cost. WikiTree is free to search and access all records.

At some stage the data included on WikiTree will be an upto date list of descendants of Joseph Meads as well as many branch pedigree records.

The oldest (with a birth date) on the site is John Sturges who was born in 1464 (This will be subject to Warren joining the pre 1500 project at some time)

WikiTree will also come to include 'William Groocock and quite a few of his descendants

A link has now been established with an extensive Meads branch in Australia through Harry Meads a previously unlisted son of John Meads. (the first born son of Joseph Meads) This data has been provided by Tracy Evans

Warren will also at some stage put on WikiTree a one family study of the UK Meads. The records from the 1881 and 1841 UK census information for all Meads in the UK will be included. This has been grouped into family groups where possible

Warren has now taken a Y-DNA test (in April 2021) and the Meads name in New Zealand looks as it has evolved as a family name variant from Mayott/Myatt > Meats or Meates. At 67 STR markers Warren has 4 variant steps with the Meates/Myatt and Mate names with 9 People in FamilytreeDNA and 5 variant steps with 15 People all with the Meates/Meats/Myatt/Mate family names. Warren also has a Y111 10 step match with the Son of Don Loyd Myatt (1919-1989) who descends from a large Myatt family in the US which is descended from the Myatt's of Abingdon in the UK

One of the sons (Livng at November 2023) of Humphrey Shand Meads has taken a Family Tree DNA Y-111 test that matches the Y-111 test taken by Warren Meads and suggests that they have a common Ancestor within 5 Steps. Jospeh Meads is that common Ancestor and he is 5 Steps for Warren and 4 Steps for The son of Humphrey.

The earliest traces of the Meads family are to be found a history of "The Norman people and their existing descendants in British Dominions and the United States" of published in London, England in 1874. From this volume it appears that the name Mead is from the English form of the Norman "DePoata" which translated into English is Mead Meade, Mede,and Meads