Show ContentsAdden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Adden first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in the region of Eden in Durham. "Though the pedigree is not traced higher than the year 1413, there is no reason to doubt that the name is local and derived from either Castle Eden or Little Eden in the county of Durham, where, as Mr. Courthope asserts, the family were resident for several generations prior to the close of the XIV. century." [1]

The source Norman People, pushes back earlier: "William de Torp or Torpes and his fief in Normandy are mentioned 1180 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae), he granted part of his lordship of Eden, Durham, to the Church of Durham before 1180. His descendant, Eustace de Eden, granted part of Eden to the same church 1318. Eustace and Utred de Edene were witnesses to the charter of William de Torp of Eden, being probably his younger brothers. The family appears to have always remained seated in Durham." [2]

Early Origins of the Adden family

The surname Adden was first found in Suffolk. Hellaby Hall in Stainton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire was an ancient mansion on the property of Sir R. J. Eden, but is now a farmhouse. [3]

Some of the family have recently branched to Windleston in Durham. "It comprises by computation 1250 acres, and has been long the property of the Eden family, of whom Sir Robert Johnson Eden, Bart., rebuilt Windleston Hall about twenty years since [(1860s.)] " [3]

West Auckland in Durham also had some early records of the family. "The place gives the title of Baron to the family of Eden, who formerly resided here: the estates now belong to Sir R. J. Eden, Bart." [3]

Let's take a moment to turn back the pages of time for this family and explore some of the early rolls. In Oxfordshire, we found Tomas filius Edon listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1203; Edon le Poleter in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1270; Roger Edun in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327; and Stephen Edoun in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. In Northumberland, Nicholas de Edune was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1178 and William de Eden was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1256. [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes: Nicholas filius Edon, Norfolk; Roger filius Edon, Norfolk; Nel filius Edine, Oxfordshire; and Henry Edon, Oxfordshire. [5]

Early History of the Adden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adden research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1521, 1535, 1544, 1546, 1576 and 1645 are included under the topic Early Adden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adden Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Adden has appeared include Eden, Edin, Edden, Edens and others.

Early Notables of the Adden family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Eden (1521?-1576), English translator, born in Herefordshire about 1521, and studied at Queens' College, Cambridge, 1535-1544, under Sir Thomas Smith; he held...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Adden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Adden family to Ireland

Some of the Adden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Adden family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Adden arrived in North America very early: the senior branch of the Edens who migrated to Maryland in the Colonies. They were from the West Auckland branch in Durham. The same branch produced the Lords Auckland in Ireland who were the 37th ranking nobles of Ireland. Individuals who arrived in North America included Alice Eden, who came to Boston in 1637.



The Adden Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Si sit prudentia
Motto Translation: If there be prudence.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook