Show ContentsWardant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wardant family

The surname Wardant was first found in towns and civil parishes in Westmorland, Cheshire or Lincolnshire named Wharton. The oldest local was in Cheshire where the place name was listed as Wanetune 1 in the Domesday Book of 1086. Years later this village was to be known as Waverton in 1216. Literally the village probably meant "farmstead by a swaying tree," from the Old English "waefree" + "tun." 2

But we must look to Westmorland (now known as Cumbria) for Wharton, a civil parish near Kirkby Stephen in the Eden District for the oldest records of the surname. "The Hall, once a large quadrangular building with a tower at each angle, was the princely residence of Philip, the celebrated Duke of Wharton, and his ancestors, but is now occupied as a farmhouse. The estates and manorial rights of the Whartons are now possessed by the Earl of Lonsdale." 3

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-1541), the manor of Langdale in Westmorland was sold to the Wharton family.

Early History of the Wardant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wardant research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1407, 1420, 1495, 1520, 1545, 1555, 1568, 1572, 1588, 1613, 1614, 1615, 1617, 1622, 1625, 1632, 1648, 1664, 1670, 1673, 1676, 1681, 1684, 1685, 1695, 1696, 1698, 1715 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Wardant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wardant Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wharton, Warton and others.

Early Notables of the Wardant family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Wharton (fl.1407-1420), an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Guildford in 1407 and 1420; Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton (c. 1495-1568); Thomas Wharton, 2nd Baron Wharton (1520-1572); Philip Wharton, 3rd Baron Wharton (1555-1625), an English peer; Sir Thomas Wharton (c 1588-1622), an English landowner and politician, Member of Parliament for Westmorland (1614-1622); Sir Thomas Wharton (c. 1615-1684), an English politician; Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton (1613-1696), an English peer. Thomas Wharton (1614-1673) was an English physician and anatomist, eponym of Wharton's jelly. Jesse Wharton (died 1676) was an English settler from the...
Another 129 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wardant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Wardant family to Ireland

Some of the Wardant family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Wardant family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Sarah Warton who settled in New England in 1718; Susannah Warton settled in Pennsylvania in 1686; George Wharton settled in Virginia in 1643; Phillip Wharton settled in Bermuda in 1635.



The Wardant 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: Generosus nascitur non fit
Motto Translation: The gentleman is born not made.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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