Show ContentsArderley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Arderley first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived in Ardern in the county of Warwick. The interpretation of the name, however, varies depending on the county of origin. In Cheshire, Kent and Hampshire, the name assumes the local meaning of dwelling-house, and in Yorkshire, it has the curious meaning of eagle valley or gravel valley.

Early Origins of the Arderley family

The surname Arderley was first found in the county of Warwickshire, from very ancient times, when Hugh de Arden recovered some of his family's lost estates after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Henry de Arden, his successor, about 1130 A.D. held five knights' fees from the Norman Earl of Warwick. This line can be traced to the present family seat at Longcroft Hall in Staffordshire.

"No family can claim a more noble origin that the house of Ardern, descended in the male line from the Saxon Earls of Warwick before the Conquest. The name of Arden was assumed from the Woodlands of Arden, in the North of Warwickshire, by Siward de Arden, in the reign of Henry I." 1

"The priory of Shulbrede, about half a mile from the church, in a sequestered spot, was founded by Ralph de Arderne, about the beginning of the reign of Henry III., for five canons of the order of St. Augustine." 2

John Arderne (1307-1392) was arguably England's first surgeon and one of the first of his time to devise workable cures. He hailed from Newark-on-Trent, Nottingham but moved to London where he is thought to have been admitted as a member of the Guild of Surgeons.

Early History of the Arderley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arderley research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1307, 1392, 1452, 1523, 1537, 1542, 1545, 1558, 1563, 1570, 1583, 1608, 1636, 1691 and 1843 are included under the topic Early Arderley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arderley Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Arderley has appeared include Ardern, Arden, Arderne, Adron, Harden, Ardin and many more.

Early Notables of the Arderley family

Notables of the family at this time include John Arderne (1307-1392), an English surgeon and one of the first of his time to devise workable cures. Some describe him as England's first surgeon. Robert Arden was executed in 1452 for supporting the uprising of Richard, Duke of York. Edward Arden (1542?-1583), was an English nobleman and head of the Arden family, became a Catholic martyr upon his execution. He "was a probably innocent victim of the rigorous severity adopted by the ministers of Queen Elizabeth in order to defeat the numerous Roman Catholic conspiracies in favour of Mary Queen of Scots...
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Arderley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arderley family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Arderley arrived in North America very early: Robert Arden, who settled in Virginia in 1638; James Ardin, who landed in North America in 1690; Robert Ardern, who came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1758.



  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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