Show ContentsBerdent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Berdent is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived on a barley farm. Checking further we found the name was derived from the English word barton which originates in the two Old English words bere, which means barley, and tun, signifying an enclosure.

Early Origins of the Berdent family

The surname Berdent was first found in Cheshire at Barton, a township, in the parish of Farndon, union of Great Boughton, Higher division of the hundred of Broxton. "The manor [of Barton] was anciently held under the barony of Malpas by the family of Barton, some monuments of whom, with their effigies, were formerly to be seen in Farndon church." 1

Over in Barton-Upon-Irwell in Lancashire another branch of the family was found. "Barton Old Hall, a brick edifice, now a farmhouse, was the seat successively of the Barton, Booth, and Leigh families." 1

Bearton was the name of a small hamlet near Hitchin in Hertfordshire, but was amalgamated about 100 years ago to be known as Hitchin Bearton.

Early History of the Berdent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berdent research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1015, 1163, 1304, 1466, 1474, 1475, 1506, 1511, 1525, 1534, 1562, 1597, 1598, 1610, 1614, 1659, 1678, 1681, 1684, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Berdent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Berdent Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Berdent family name include Barton, Barten, Bartin and others.

Early Notables of the Berdent family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Andrew Barton (1466-1511), High Admiral of the Kingdom of Scotland, but regarded by the English and Portuguese as a pirate. His "defeat by Sir Thomas and Sir Edward Howard is celebrated in the old ballad of 'Sir Andrew Barton,' was the son of John Barton, who is mentioned in the account of the chamberlain of Fife, 1474-1475, as master of the Yellow Carvel, subsequently rendered famous under Sir Andrew Wood. " 2 Edward Barton (1562?-1597), was the second English ambassador sent to Constantinople, and was probably the second son of Edward Barton of...
Another 224 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Berdent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Berdent family to Ireland

Some of the Berdent family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 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 Berdent family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Berdent surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Jane Barton who settled in Barbados in 1654; Nicholas Barton settled in Virginia in the same year; Robert Barton settled in Virginia in 1637; William Barton settled in Jamaica in 1654.



The Berdent 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: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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