Adriaens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Adriaens

What does the name Adriaens mean?

The name Adriaens is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the region of Adria. "This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Adrian.' The form Adrain is an old one." 1

Early Origins of the Adriaens family

The surname Adriaens was first found in Middlesex, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Pope Adrian IV (d. 1159), was "the only Englishman who ever sat in the chair of St. Peter. His early history is obscure. His name is said to have been Nicholas Breakspear." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list John Adrien as holding lands in Suffolk at that time and the Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London list John Adrian as Sheriff of London in 1258. 1

Early History of the Adriaens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adriaens research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1232, 1250, 1258, 1277, 1295, 1565, 1775 and 1889 are included under the topic Early Adriaens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adriaens Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Adriaens are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Adriaens include: Adrian, Adrien, Adrain, Awdryan, Adriance and others.

Early Notables of the Adriaens family

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

Migration of the Adriaens family to Ireland

Some of the Adriaens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 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 Adriaens family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Adriaens or a variant listed above: Christian Adrian, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1752; Sybriant Adrian to New York in 1759; P. Adrian to Baltimore in 1820; and L. Adriance to San Francisco in 1850..

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print