| ![Show Contents]() Virden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Today's generation of the Virden family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Virden family lived in "La Roque and La Chesnaye-du-Bois [where] both maintain that it had its origin in the county of Mortaine, where one of its branches was of long continuance; yet it is incontestable that in the twelfth century there was a fief of Verdun in the arrondissement of Avranches; and, according to M, de Gerville, the cradle of the family was Barenton, in that neighbourhood." 1 Early Origins of the Virden familyThe surname Virden was first found in Buckinghamshire where they were descended from Bertram de Verdun, a Norman baronial name from Verdun, near Avranches in Normandy, where they were descended form the Counts of Verdun, and came to England in 1066 and was granted Farnham Royal in that shire. Tradition has it that on the day of the Coronation of William I, he provided a glove for the King's right hand. In 1095 he served as Sheriff of York. He also held lands in what is now known as Alveton or Alton in Staffordshire. 1 "On June 14, 1188, William de Humez, then Constable of Normandy, and Bertram de Verdon, were assessors of the King in a Curia sitting at Geddington. Bertram de Verdon, accompanying King Richard in the crusade of 1190, died at Jaffa in 1192, and was buried at Acre." 1 "The living [of Alveton], before the Reformation, was connected with the abbey of Croxden, to which the benefice was attached by Bertram de Verdun of Alton Castle, in 1176, after he had founded the abbey. The ruins of the castle still remain, on the summit of a rock 300 feet above the bed of the Churnet." 2 Bertram de Verdon or Verdun (d. 1192), was an early English judge, the son of Norman de Verdun and Luceline, daughter of Geoffrey de Clinton, Chamberlain to Henry I. "He founded in 1176 the Cistercian abbey of Croxden in Staffordshire, where his chief lands were. " 3 Theobald de Verdon (1248?-1309), was an English Baron, the son of John de Verdon (d. 1274), and his wife, Margaret de Lacy. "His grandfather, Theobald Butler, an Irish lord, married Rohese de Verdon, only daughter and heiress of Nicholas de Verdon, the last male representative of the Norman family of Verdon. They were lords of Farnham Royal in Buckinghamshire, of Brandon Castle in Warwickshire, and possessors of large estates in Leicestershire and Staffordshire, where their principal residence, Alveton (or Alton) Castle, was situated, and where also was their chief religious foundation, the Cistercian abbey of Croxden, established in 1176 by Bertram de Verdon. " 3 Early History of the Virden familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Virden research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1184, 1770, 1780, 1839 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Virden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Virden Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Virden include Verdon, Verdan, Verdin, Verdun and others. Early Notables of the Virden familyMore information is included under the topic Early Virden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Virden family to Ireland
Some of the Virden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 36 words (3 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 Virden familyIn England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Virdens to arrive on North American shores: Richard Verdin settled in Virginia in 1655; Richard Verdan settled in Philadelphia in 1872.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Virden (post 1700) | + |
- Carl Virden, American actor, known for Welcome Home (2008), Room 337 (2008) and Thomas Green Clemson: A Life and a Legacy (2007)
- Claude Virden (b. 1947), American former NBA basketball player
- William H. Virden (b. 1837), American politician, Delegate to Nevada State Constitutional Convention, 1863 4
- Thomas J. Virden, American politician, Delegate to Delaware convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 4
- Roy J. Virden, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Pleasants County Democratic Party, 1940-41 4
- Paul Virden, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Gentry County, 1948 4
- Jon B. Virden, American politician, Mayor of Griffin, Georgia, 1953 4
- Harold W. Virden (b. 1907), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Brooke County, 1957-58 4
- Henry Virden Lyons, American Republican politician, Member of Delaware State House of Representatives; Speaker of the Delaware State House of Representatives 5
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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England
Ireland
