Cadwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the Cadwell family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. They lived at or near the wooded stream derived from the Gaelic word coillie, a wood and dur which means stream.
Early Origins of the Cadwell family
The surname Cadwell was first found in Banffshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhanbh), former Scottish county located in the northeasterly Grampian region of Scotland, now of divided between the Council Areas of Moray and Aberdeenshire.
One source notes, "the northern Cawdors were disguised as Cadells and de Cadella even in old Scots chroniclers, and they have kept that variety permanently in the South. " 1
Further to the south in England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Cristina Caudel, Cambridgeshire; William Caudel, Cambridgeshire; and (Prior) de Caudewelle, Bedfordshire. 2
"Cadel was a surname in Oxfordshire and Sussex at the close of the 13th century." 3
Cadell (d. 909), was "King of Ceredigion and afterwards of Powys, one of the six warlike sons of Rhodri Mawr, the most powerful of the early Welsh kings. He was Rhodri's eldest son, and received as his patrimony Ceredigion, with the palace at Dinevwr, and an overlordship over his other brothers. " 4
Cadell (d. 943), was a Welsh prince, the son of Arthvael, who was the son of Hywel. Cadell (d. 1175), was a South Welsh prince, the son of Gruffudd, the son of Rhys, the son of Tewdwr. 4
Early History of the Cadwell family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cadwell research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1536, 1558 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Cadwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cadwell Spelling Variations
In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Cadwell has been spelled Cadell, Caddell, Cadel, Cadwell and others.
Early Notables of the Cadwell family
More information is included under the topic Early Cadwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cadwell Ranking
In the United States, the name Cadwell is the 9,150th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
Migration of the Cadwell family to Ireland
Some of the Cadwell 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.
Cadwell migration to the United States +
In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Cadwell:
Cadwell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- William Cadwell, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 6
Cadwell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- F Cadwell, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
- W Cadwell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
- Charles E. Cadwell, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1892
- Thomas Cadwell, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, England, in 1892
Cadwell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Mr. Bertie Cadwell, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 25th March 1900 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 7
- Mr. William Cadwell, (b. 1880), aged 20, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 25th March 1900 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 7
- Mr. Stephen Cadwell, (b. 1857), aged 46, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th February 1903 en route to Superior, Wisconsin, USA 7
- Mr. Bertie Cadwell, (b. 1884), aged 19, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 16th May 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 7
- Charlotte S. Cadwell, aged 50, who immigrated to America from London, in 1903
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cadwell migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Cadwell Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Mary Ann Cadwell, aged 19, who immigrated to Halifax, Canada, in 1907
- Selina Cadwell, aged 54, who immigrated to Halifax, Canada, in 1907
Contemporary Notables of the name Cadwell (post 1700) +
- Jane Cadwell (1915-2000), American Olympic breaststroke swimmer who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Linda Lee Cadwell (b. 1945), born Linda C. Emery, American teacher and the widow of martial arts master and actor Bruce Lee
- William H. Cadwell (b. 1863), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from New Britain, 1904, 1906 8
- Samuel Cadwell, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Windsor, 1835 8
- Roy E. Cadwell, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives from Pulaski County, 1964 8
- John A. Cadwell (b. 1834), American Republican politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives from New Haven, 1888 8
- Dan P. Cadwell, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Oneida County, 1835, 1843 8
- Albert Cadwell (1900-1944), English footballer
The Cadwell 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: Vigilantia non cadet
Motto Translation: Vigilance will not miscarry.
Citations +
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html