HISTORY
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HISTORY
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WALES ANCESTORS
The surname Bliven comes from the Welsh given name Bleddyn. This given name was originally a byname literally meaning "Wolf Cub", derived from the combination of two elements, the Welsh word "blaidd" meaning "wolf", plus the diminutive suffix "-yn". The name Blaidd was often used in Medieval Welsh as a term for a hero. "Bliv/blif" = "catapult". Family tradition suggests that the name change from Bleddyn to Bliven was a pun... the brothers jumping, "catapulting" away from trouble in Wales to a new world and a new life.
One of the earliest appearances of the name was in Northern Wales in the 11th century where their lived a prince named Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. The "ap" means son of, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was the son of Cynfyn ap Gwerystan (978-1023). His mother was Angharad ferch Maredudd. Bleddyn ap Cynfyn was born about 1025 and died in 1072 at his Powys Castle in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Prince Bleddyn ruled jointly with his brother Rhiwallon (1000-1068) in North Wales from 1063 to 1068. Rhiwallon died in 1068, so from 1068 to 1075, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn ruled Gwynedd alone. In the pedigree books, he is the head of one of the five royal tribes, being that of Powys. In "The Cambrian Biography" 1803, states that he was slain in battle by Rhys ap Owain in 1075.
Our heritage continues with Bleddyn ap Cynvyn's son, Prince Maredydd ap Bleddyn (born about 1047 in Montgomeryshire, Wales. It is with Maredydd's third marriage that Cadwgan ap Bleddyn was born. Cadwgan ap Bleddyn was born in Cardigan, Wales, 1065-1111. He became prince of a part of Powys in 1073, and for some time had possession of part of South Wales, (Lord of Nannau). In the year 1107 he had a great banquet at Aberteivi, now Abrteifi, at this banquet where bards and minstrels performed songs Cadwgan's son Owain was captivated with the charms of Nesta, the wife of Gerald. During the banquet Owain carried off Gerald's wife. In consequence, both Cadwgan and his son Owain were obliged to flee to Ireland. The incident upset Henry I so much that it started a war. Cadwgan returned the next year and proved his innocence of the plot of his son. He maintained his power with bravery, and justice until 1110. The earliest reference to a Welsh lord planning to build a castle is found in an entry in the Brut y Tywysogyon, the Chronicle of the Princes. It records that, in 1111, Cadwgan ap Bleddyn was slain at Welshpool where he had 'thought to stay and to make a castle'. He was assassinated by Madog Bleddyn son of Rhiryd, his nephew. In a newspaper, printed in Lanchester, England, was a picture and story of a monument to Madog Bleddyn who sailed from England about the year of 1120 and arrived on the shores of North America. According to his log of the trip, he sailed up a river and spent considerable time with the friendly dark-skinned natives. This accounts for the fact that when early settlers in what is now Maryland tell of first meeting with the native Indians, they tried French and other languages in an attempt to communicate. They were surprised to discover that the Indians spoke quite fluently the Welch language.
We are working hard to fill in the missing years between Owain ap Cadwgon & the three immigrant Bliven brothers. Please send an email if you have any information that will help.
The list below contains other possible Wales ancestors. Notice that because of alternate spellings of Bleddyn the person may be listed more than once.
The Bleddyn Castle is a 14th century manor which is now a hotel and park set in 17 acres of wooded grounds, not far from the town of Caerleon, Wales.
"Representative Men And Old Families Of Rhode Island" published in Chicago, IL in 1908 by J.H. BEERS & Co., states that the immigrant BLIVEN ancestors were three brothers: Edward, James, and John or Joshua all coming from England and arriving in Salem, MA. Sometime after arriving in America, Edward & James changed their last name spelling to Bliven .
One of the earliest records of the Bliven family in America, is the conveyance of Property by John Bliven to Bridget Oliver, (widow of Thomas Oliver) in 1679 at Salem, where the original parchment was at one time displayed upon the walls of Essex Institute.
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