Show ContentsArdian History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ardian

What does the name Ardian mean?

The name Ardian reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Ardian family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ardian family lived in Suffolk, where they were located since the early Middle Ages, but the name originated in the French province of Artois. 1

Alternatively then name could have been derived from the Breton word "arth" which means "bear."

Early Origins of the Ardian family

The surname Ardian was first found in Suffolk, where they held a family seat from the Middle Ages. The name originated in the French province of Artois and was transferred to England with the conquest.

Early History of the Ardian family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ardian research. Another 227 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1500, 1524, 1568, 1619, 1649, 1655, 1661, 1674, 1713 and 1724 are included under the topic Early Ardian History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ardian Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Artus, Artis, Artiss, Artois, Artoys, Artice, Artes, Arteis, Artson and many more.

Early Notables of the Ardian family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Artoys, a prominent 14th century landholder in Suffolk. Artus de Lionne (1655-1713), Abbé and Bishop of Rosalie in...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ardian Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ardian family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Ardian name or one of its variants: Isac Artus, who sailed to America in 1709.



  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)


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