Caldwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Scotland-Alt 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


Scottish history reveals Caldwell was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in Renfrewshire. This place-name may also be derived from the Old English words caeld, which means cold, and welle, which means well, and indicates that the original bearer lived near a well that gave cold water. 1

Early Origins of the Caldwell family

The surname Caldwell was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Friù), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland, at the Caldwell Tower, a mansion and old estate that dates back to 1294. 2

The current Caldwell Tower stands on a mound, and is a small, free-standing tower that was probably built in the 16th century.

It was fully restored in 2011 with the addition of a small extension. Caldwell is also a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire.

"The old family of the name appears to have ended in the direct line in an heiress in the fifteenth century. In 1342 there is an entry of the fee of William de Caldwell. Robert Cauldwell was a merchant in the service of Sir John of Montgomery, 1405." 3

The Caudle variant may be related to a thickened and sweetened alcoholic hot drink so named. It was popular in the Middle Ages for its supposed medicinal properties and dates back to at least 1297.

Further to the south in the English county of Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes de Coldwell; and Thomas de Coldwele. 4

Early History of the Caldwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caldwell research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1419, 1495, 1505, 1526, 1533, 1548, 1551, 1554, 1559, 1561, 1572, 1581, 1584, 1596, 1628, 1661, 1679, 1687, 1796, 1890 and 1929 are included under the topic Early Caldwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caldwell Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Caldwell has been spelled Caldwell, Coldwell, Caldwill, Cauldwell, Cauldwill, Cawldwell, Guildwell, Calewell, Caldewell and many more.

Early Notables of the Caldwell family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Caldwell World Ranking

In the United States, the name Caldwell is the 272nd most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Caldwell is ranked the 911st most popular surname with an estimated 5,919 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Caldwell is the 583rd popular surname with an estimated 6,659 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Caldwell as 417th with 1,581 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Caldwell as 904th with 7,579 people. 9

Migration of the Caldwell family to Ireland

Some of the Caldwell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Caldwell migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Caldwell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Caldwell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Caldwell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Caldwell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Caldwell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Caldwell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Caldwell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Caldwell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Caldwell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Caldwell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Caldwell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Caldwell (post 1700) +


The Caldwell 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: Fac et spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.


Suggested Readings for the name Caldwell +
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