Show ContentsAuden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Auden family

The surname Auden was first found in Westmorland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 11th century when Aldenus held estates in that county. They may have been of Cumbrian extraction. The Dalden variant has a most interesting history found in Dawdon or Dawden, Durham. "There was once a castle or peel here, which in the first ages after the Conquest was the seat of the family of Escolland, who, it seems, afterwards assumed the name of Dalden, by which term this place was formerly designated, It was also for two centuries a favourite seat of the family of Bowes. A domestic chapel was attached to the structure, as Sir Jordan de Dalden, in 1325, obtained a licence to establish an oratory within his manor-house, on condition that no injury should arise to the parochial church of Dalton." 1

Early History of the Auden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Auden research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1109, 1455, 1487, 1504, 1510, 1599, 1600, 1602, 1622, 1623, 1680, 1687, 1701 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Auden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Auden Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Auden were recorded, including Alden, Aldin, Aldwen, Aldyn, Aldwyn, Aldwen, Elden, Eldwyn, Eldwin, Eldin, Olden, Auden, Aldan, Aldon and many more.

Early Notables of the Auden family

Distinguished members of the family include John, C. Alden (1599-1687) was a crew member of the Mayflower and one of the Puritan settlers of the Plymouth Colony. He arrived in America where he became an assistant to the Governor of the colony. He married Priscilla Alden (c. 1602-1680) (née Mullins or Mullens), on May 12, 1622. She was another passenger on...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Auden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Auden family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Auden family emigrate to North America: John Alden, who arrived in Plymouth, MA in 1620 aboard the "Mayflower"; Elizabeth Alden, who came to Massachusetts in 1620; Edward Alden, on record in Virginia in 1635.


Contemporary Notables of the name Auden (post 1700) +

  • Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973), English-born, American poet awarded the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
  • George Augustus Auden (1872-1957), English physician
  • John Bicknell Auden (1903-1931), English geologist and explorer, and an official with the World Health Organization


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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