Heralds of the College of Arms visited the English counties between 1530 and 1687 to see who had the right to a Coat of Arms, and drew up pedigrees of armigerous persons. I have come across the Meade family in three Visitations: Essex 1634,
Essex 1664-1668, and Cambridgeshire 1619. Both families shown below are descended from Thomas Mede of Somerset. In addition to the Visitations below, I have found three Meade pedigrees in the Visitation of Essex 1634, showing the descendants of Thomas Meade of Elmdon, Edward Meade of Berden, and John Meade of Great Easton.