Show ContentsDearden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Dearden comes from when the family resided in the village of Dearden in the county of Lancashire.

Early Origins of the Dearden family

The surname Dearden was first found in Lancashire at Dearden, near Edenfield, Bury 1 where the name derives from the Old English word "deor" meaning "deer," and "denu", which meant "valley," collectively meaning "the valley of the deer."

Early History of the Dearden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dearden research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1130 and 1281 are included under the topic Early Dearden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dearden Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Dearden include Dearden, Deardens, Durden, Dureden, Deardon and many more.

Early Notables of the Dearden family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Richard Dearden of Handle Hall Estate


United States Dearden migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Dearden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Dearden who settled in Virginia in 1717
Dearden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis Dearden, who arrived in New York in 1819 2

Australia Dearden migration to Australia +

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

Dearden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Dearden, British convict who was convicted in Lancaster, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Mr. Adam Dearden, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Mr. William Dearden, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

New Zealand Dearden migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Dearden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George Dearden, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Claramont" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Dearden (post 1700) +

  • John Francis Cardinal Dearden (1907-1988), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Detroit, Michigan
  • Greenwood Dearden, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Tolland, 1908 6
  • Dick Dearden, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1996 6
  • James Dearden (b. 1949), English film director, producer, and screenwriter
  • Kevin Charles Dearden (b. 1970), English former professional footballer
  • Basil Dearden (1911-1971), English film director
  • Dr. James Shackley Dearden M.B.E., British Founder for Ruskin Association, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Culture 7


The Dearden 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: Dum Spiro Spero
Motto Translation: While I have breath I hope.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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