The name Adrien belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having 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]
The surname Adrien 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adrien research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1232, 1258, 1277, 1295, 1565, 1889, 1250 and 1775 are included under the topic Early Adrien History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Adrien include Adrian, Adrien, Adrain, Awdryan, Adriance and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Adrien Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In France, the name Adrien is the 4,175th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. [3]
Some of the Adrien 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.
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Adrien were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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..