Archdall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Archdall family

The surname Archdall was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Norton Subcourse, which was held principally by Jocelyn of Norwich, a Norman freeman of the King, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Succeeded were the Archdales of Norton Hall.

Early History of the Archdall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Archdall research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1172, 1610, 1614, 1635, 1641, 1642, 1689, 1695, 1696, 1700, 1717, 1810 and 1928 are included under the topic Early Archdall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archdall Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Archdale, Archdall, Archdell, Arkdale, Arkdell and others.

Early Notables of the Archdall family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Archdall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Archdall family to Ireland

Some of the Archdall family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 163 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archdall migration to Canada +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Archdall or a variant listed above were:

Archdall Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Lieutenant Archdall, who settled in Quebec in 1858

Contemporary Notables of the name Archdall (post 1700) +

Mervyn Archdall (1723-1791), Irish antiquary, descended from John Archdall, of Norsom or Norton Hall, in Norfolk, who went to Ireland in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and settled at Castle Archdall, co. Fermanagh 2
William Humphrys Archdall (1813-1899), Irish Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for Fermanagh in 1874, High Sheriff of Fermanagh in 1845

The Archdall 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: Data fata secutus
Motto Translation: Following my destiny.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019