WorldComm-GedCom

GEDCOM-Families

Photo Index

Links to Interesting Information

ORIGIN AND MEANING OF
OUR SURNAME:

Let us begin with our name, of which there are over fifty spellings but the earliest seems to be de Moulin or de Molins. The Earls of Sefton used Mulins, Mulinus, Molinex, Molino, Molyneux, Molineux and Molyneaux.--. From Patronymica Britannica, a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom endevoured by Mark Antony Lower, M.A.F.S.A., London, John Russell Smith, 36 Soho Square, Lews: G. P. Bacon MD CCC LX October 6, 1860. Molines: The Baronial family of De Molinex who became eminent under Edward III are slated in the Baronages to have derived their surname from the town so called in the Bourbonnois, but there may have been an earlier settlement from one of the numerous places in Normandy called Moulinex or Moulins from the molendina or watermills there existing. Molineux; Molyneux; this family came from Molineux - sur-Seine, not far from Rouen celebrated for the ruins of an ancient fortress popularly called the Castle of Robert le Diable, which was destroyed by John Sans-Terre, but rebuilt in 1378 by descent from William de Molineux, Lord of Sefton, County Lancashire, one of the followers of William the Conqueror.-- Courhopis Debrett..... IMFA 1.1.1 August 1986 ; Wesley L Mullenneix Editor IMFA COPYRIGHT

The Molyneux family is one of the oldest in the former county of Lancashire, in the United Kingdom, claiming descent from a follower of William the conqueror called Guilliam Desmolines. While the claim to Norman origin is probably justified, no proven Molyneux ancestor can be traced before Adam de Molyneux in the12th century. It seems likely that the spelling of the name gradually changed from De Molines to de Molyneux, the 'de' disappearing later.

Some time after 1100, lands at Sefton, Thornton and Little Crosby came into the family's hands, so beginning their connection with this part of England. Sefton was chosen for the site of their manor house, and the Molyneux remained Lords of the manor there until the 18th century. Sefton Church was their burial place, and contains many family monuments and brasses; the manor house was situated southeast of the Church but has long since disappeared.

The Molyneux coat of arms is a gold cross on a blue (azure) ground. The simplicity of this design is a sure indication of its great antiquity, while the exact shape of the cross - technically a cross moline - is a pun on the old spelling of the name.

The Molyneux wear always important and influential as both soldiers and noblemen, and wear closely involved in most of the major military conflicts from the time of the crusades until the 16th century. The family's success in battle led to the acquisition of lands by Royal gift and direct conquest. A genius for strategic marriages to heiresses was the other main cause of the expansion of the Molyneux estates, which gradually came to embrace an area stretching all the way from Speke to Altcar, as well as many acres around Leyland.

Tradition has it that one William Molyneux, who served the Black Prince in the French and Spanish wars, was knighted after the battle of Navarette in 1367. Thereafter his descendants continued from success to success, several of them becoming MP's or high sheriffs of Lancashire.

The reign of Henry V and Henry VI marked a high point of Royal favour, with the rise of Sir Richard Molyneux. Having distinguished himself in the French wars, particularly at Agincourt, he was granted several high honours including the chief Forestership of West Derby, Toxteth and Simonswood, and the Constableship of Liverpool castle. Liverpool castle was built about 1234 on a site at the top of the present Lord Street, and became a focal point in the struggle for control of the town. Previously, West Derby itself had been of greater importance than Liverpool, and had its own castle.

With the granting of these two important posts in 1446, Sir Richard started a family connection with two places, Croxteth and the castle, which was greatly to affect Molyneux history. Both posts later became hereditary. Meanwhile a great rivalry was developing with the Stanley family of Knowsley, the struggle for control of Liverpool and its castle having almost led to a fight between them in 1424. Sir Richard's son fell fighting on the Lancastrian side at Bloreheath in the wars of the roses in 1459. After the battle of Bosworth, which brought the wars to an end in 1485, the Stanleys became Earls of Derby, and for a time eclipsed the Molyneux in importance. Military honours continued to fall to the family, however, the next Molyneux to distinguish himself being Sir William at the battle of Flodden in 1513.

The Molyneux probably had a house at Croxteth by about 1535, but Sefton continued to be their main home right upper to the 18th century.

Throughout the 16th century a dispute raged between the family and the burgesses of Liverpool over the lease of the 'fee farm'. In effect it was an argument over who should control Liverpool itself, and it led to the Molyneux becoming very unpopular for a while.

By 1628, however, the family fortunes took another upward turn, when another Sir Richard Molyneux was created the first viscount Molyneux of Maryborough in the Irish peerage. His sons Sir Richard and seller Caryll (second and third viscount respectively) became heavily embroiled in the civil war. Being Catholics and Royalists they naturally fought on the side of King Charles. Sir Richard was in the siege of Manchester, the capture of Lancaster and Preston, one of the battles of Newbury and the battle of Ormskirk. after the king's execution he fought at the battle of Worcester (1651). Liverpool castle was the scene of some skirmishing.

Having found themselves on the losing side, the Molyneux had to endure the confiscation of some of their lands. Later Caryll Molyneux was in trouble again, outlawed by Parliament for helping Prince Rupert to gain control of Liverpool (by using his position as Constable of the Castle), and for supporting the deposed King II in 1688-89. The Castle had been partly dismantled in 1660-1678, though Caryll had used it for storing arms. Control of the Castle finally passed out of Molyneux hands after Caryll had again been suspected of participation in a Jacobite plot. (The last remains of the Castle disappeared about 1726).

With the building of an imposing new wing onto the Elizabethan Croxteth Hall, about 1702-20, the Molyneux family finally forsook Sefton in favour of Croxteth, where they gradually laid out the Park and gardens and added improvements to the estate. Woolton Hall was also owned by the family in the 18th century; a carved sundial from there was later brought to Croxteth.

The seventh Viscount was a Jesuit priest in charge of the mission at Scholes near Prescot. He was unmarried, and was succeeded as eighth Viscount by his brother's son, Charles William Molyneux (1748-95), who lived at Croxteth Hall. At this time the Catholicism of the Molyneux family was something of a bar to their preferment to high office, and they were less in the public eye that at earlier periods of their history. In 1768 Charles William married Isabella, daughter of the second Earl of Harrington, a beautiful and astute woman who was painted by both Gainsborough and Reynolds. She seems to have persuaded her husband to conform - at least outwardly - to the Church of England, so restoring him to royal favour. In 1771 his reward came when he was created first Earl of Sefton in the Irish Peerage.

During the 19th century, the family became noted for its sporting interests, including coursing and steeplechasing. In coursing, greyhounds compete against each other in pairs in the pursuit of hares,and parts of the Sefton estates were managed to encourage high population of hares. Croxteth itself, however, was organised as a shooting estate; the woodland was managed to provide peasant cover.

The second Earl of Sefton, known as Lord Dashalong, (because of his fondness for driving a carriage and four) was a keen sportsman and gambler who sold off land to the Waterloo Hotel at Aintree to found a steeplechase course. Horses from the Sefton stables were often to compete in the Grand National. Although they never won the Grand National, one of their Horses, "Irish Lizard" was placed in 1953 and 1954.

The second and third Earls were instrumental in forming the Altcar coursing club and founding the Waterloo Cup for coursing; Sefton dogs were winners of the latter in 1836, 1847, 1854, 1921 and 1971.

In the late 18th century parts of the Molyneux estate were sold, possibly to redeem gambling debts. Land at Great Crosby, Melling, Maghull, Lydiate and Aughton was disposed of and throughout the 19th century other parts of the estate were sold to accommodate the expanding township of Liverpool.

Both the third Earl (1796-1855) and his son the fourth Earl (1835-1897), who extended Croxteth Hall, were Lord Lieutenants of Lancashire. The fourth Earl also built another great country estate at Abbeystead Lancashire. On the death of the fourth Earl in 1897 his son, Charles William Hylton Molyneux, became the fifth Earl at the age of 30. Tragically he was to die at the age of 34 in 1901 after suffering a prolonged illness as a result of a riding accident in 1895.