Cowardin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Cowardin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived in the village of Carden in the county of Cheshire. This surname is derived from the Old English word cairn which was a rock structure, often as simple as a small pile of stones, serving as a memorial or marker of an important place. The surname may have also used been used as a nickname for a stubborn person. In such a case, it would have been derived from the word Cardon, meaning thistle.

Early Origins of the Cowardin family

The surname Cowardin was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Cowardin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cowardin research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1086 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cowardin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cowardin Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Cowardin family name include Carden, Cardon, Cardin, Cawarden and others.

Early Notables of the Cowardin family

More information is included under the topic Early Cowardin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cowardin family to Ireland

Some of the Cowardin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cowardin family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Cowardin surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Richard Cardon who arrived in New England in 1748; Patrick Carden arrived in Philadelphia in 1851; along with Henry, James, John, Patrick, Richard and William, all within ten years.

The Cowardin 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: Fide et amore
Motto Translation: By fidelity and love.