Show ContentsAlderdice History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Alderdice

What does the name Alderdice mean?

The Alderdice family name was first used by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. It is a name for someone who lived in the old barony of Allardice, in the parish of Arbuthnott in Kincardineshire. This place name is derived from the Gaelic words all, which means "cliff" and deas which means "southern."

Early Origins of the Alderdice family

The surname Alderdice was first found in Kincardineshire (Gaelic: A' Mhaoirne), a former county on the northeast coast of the Grampian region of Scotland, and part of the Aberdeenshire Council Area since 1996, in a barony of the name Allardice, in the parish of Arbuthnot, about 1 mile north west of Inverbervie, where the Allardice Castle (also spelled Allardyce), the sixteenth-century manor house still stands today.

Early History of the Alderdice family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alderdice research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1413, 1607, 1612 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Alderdice History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alderdice Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Alderdice has been spelled Allardice, Allardyce, Allardes, Allardise, Allardyse, Allerdash, Allerdes, Allyrdes, Allirdasse, Alerdes, Alerdyce, Alerdice, Alderdice, Alderdyce, Alderdise and many more.

Early Notables of the Alderdice family

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

Migration of the Alderdice family to Ireland

Some of the Alderdice family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 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 Alderdice family

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Alderdice: John Allardice, who landed at Charles Town South Carolina in 1768.


Contemporary Notables of the name Alderdice (post 1700) +

  • John A. Alderdice, American politician, Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware, 1853-54 1


The Alderdice 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: In the defence of the distressed


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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