Show ContentsMaden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Maden originally appeared in Gaelic as "Mac an Mhadaidh," which is probably derived from the word "madadh," which means "warrior, dog." [1]

Another source claims the family claim descent through Owen Buac, brother of Owen Fionn, ancestor of O'Madadhain, of Connaught, slain, 1008; Anglicized O'Madden, Madden. The Madden family of Longford, County Galway, the O'Madden family of Balbriggan, County Dublin and the Madden family of Ulster are all branches of the original. [2]

Alternatively, the name could have been from "descendant of little Matthew (gift of Jehovah.)" [3]

Early Origins of the Maden family

The surname Maden was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

We did find this interesting entry for the Mudrigan variant in the parish of St. Martin, Cornwall, England: "Although this parish contains no manor, Mudgian is said formerly to have had manorial rights, when it belonged to a family of this name, and was their seat. From the Mudgians it passed with an heiress in marriage to the Chynoweths." [4]

Early History of the Maden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maden research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1347, 1556, 1567, 1677, 1713 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Maden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacAvaddy, Madden, O'Madden, Madigan, Macavadan and others.

Early Notables of the Maden family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Maden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Maden migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Maden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Rosomond Maden, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [5]
Maden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Elias Maden, aged 30, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1839 [5]
  • H. Maden, aged 29, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Maden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Henry Beach Maden, aged 26, who landed in America from Bradford, England, in 1908
  • Annie Maden, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1909
  • Ethel Maden, aged 24, who landed in America from Rockdale, England, in 1914
  • James Maden, aged 0, who landed in America from Rockdale, England, in 1914
  • J. J. Maden, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Maden (post 1700) +

  • Mr. Stephen Maden B.E.M., British recipient of the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to Blind and Partially Sighted People in Pendle, Lancashire [6]
  • Henry Maden (1892-1960), English barrister and Liberal politician, son of Sir Henry Maden
  • Steve Maden (b. 1982), British rugby league player from Ashton-in-Makerfield
  • Sir John Henry Maden (1862-1920), British Liberal Party politician
  • Professor Margaret Maden (1940-1975), British educator, Headteacher of Islington Green School in Inner London from 1975-1983
  • Richard Maden (b. 1972), British two-time bronze medalist breaststroke swimmer

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Walter Maden, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [7]


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  5. 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)
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
  7. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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