Adlard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient history of the name Adlard dates back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name given to a person considered to be brave and noble. 1 2

Early Origins of the Adlard family

The surname Adlard was first found in Norfolk and Northampton where they were recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Adelard was an under tenant of lands at that time. 3 "Adelhard was a cousin of Charlemagne, and Abbot of Corbie." 4

Adelardus (without surname) is also listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Adam Adelard was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Cambridgeshire. The same rolls include Simon filius Aderlard, Lincolnshire. In Somerset, John Athelard was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5 Later John Adelard was documented in 1327 in Yorkshire, and Richard William Adlard was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. 4

In Gloucestershire, early Pipe Rolls listed Roger Aillard (1205) and Richard Alard (1209). Nicholas Adelard was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and Stephen Eyllard was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Richard Athelard was found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 for Cambridgeshire and William Athelard was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 2

"Adelard of Bath was a 12th century writer on philosophy, of English birth, flourished about the beginning of the twelfth century. His English name was Æthelhard. His native place is said to have been Bath; but of the facts of his life little is known beyond the few references to travels contained in his own writings, and an entry in the Pipe Roll, 31 Henry I. " 6

Early History of the Adlard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adlard research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1505 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Adlard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adlard Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Adlard include Aelheard, Adelard, Adlard and others.

Early Notables of the Adlard family

Notables of the family at this time include

Adlard of Northampton

Adlard migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Adlard or a variant listed above:

Adlard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Adlard who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the year 1876 but shortly afterward moved to the west

Adlard migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Adlard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Adlard, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Flora" in 1851 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Adlard (post 1700) +

Stephen Keith Adlard (1950-2018), English footballer and first-class cricketer
Robert Edward Adlard (1915-2008), English silver medalist field hockey player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics representing Great Britain
Peter Marcus "Mark" Adlard (b. 1932), English novelist from Seaton Carew
Luis Samuel Adlard (b. 2002), English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bridlington Town, on loan from Grimsby Town since 2019
Charles "Charlie" Adlard, British comic book artist from Shrewsbury, England, known for his work on books such as The Walking Dead and Savage
Kaines Adlard Coles, English yachtsman and founder of Adlard Coles Nautical, a nautical publisher in 1947, now with over 300 books in print

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY FLORA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851LadyFlora.htm