Show ContentsVirdent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Virdent is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Virdent 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 Virdent family

The surname Virdent 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 Virdent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Virdent research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1184, 1770, 1780, 1839 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Virdent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Virdent Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Virdent family name include Verdon, Verdan, Verdin, Verdun and others.

Early Notables of the Virdent family

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

Ireland Migration of the Virdent family to Ireland

Some of the Virdent 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 Virdent family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Virdent family to immigrate North America: Richard Verdin settled in Virginia in 1655; Richard Verdan settled in Philadelphia in 1872.



  1. 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
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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