Show ContentsCaldell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Caldell surname was a habitational name, taken on from any of the various places called Calder, Caldor, or Cawdor; such as Calder in Thurso, which is recorded from the early 13th century, and Calder in Cumbria. Some of these place names are thought to come from the Old Norse "kalfr," meaning "calf," and "dalr," meaning "valley;" while others likely derive from the Welsh words "caled" meaning "hard" or "violent" and "dwfr," meaning "water," or "stream."

Early Origins of the Caldell family

The surname Caldell was first found in Inverness-shire, thought to have been a Pict stronghold, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Hugh de Cadella (Klaedouer) is said to have aided Scottish King Malcolm Ceanmore, for which he was granted the Nairnshire thaneship of Cawdor, and made a Baron in 1060. Records show that a Hugh de Kaledouer, perhaps a descendant, was a witness to a charter of land near Montrose in, Angus, around 1178. 1

Cadder, or Calder is a parish, in the Lower ward of the county of Lanark. "This place derives its name from its situation in the midst of a district abounding with wood and water, of which its appellation in the old British language, Calder, is significant. It appears to have owed its origin, as a parish, to the foundation of a church by St. Patrick, who was born in the immediate vicinity, and who, towards the close of the 5th century, founded numerous other churches in the neighbourhood, which were subsequently endowed by Convallus II." 2

Early History of the Caldell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caldell research. Another 327 words (23 lines of text) covering the years 1054, 1419, 1440, 1454, 1494, 1503, 1510, 1546, 1575, 1650, 1657, 1711, 1723, 1740, 1745, 1792, 1798 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Caldell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caldell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Calder, Cadder, Caddell, Cawdor, Cauder, Caldell, Caldille and many more.

Early Notables of the Caldell family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was William Calder (d. 1503), 7th Thane of Cawdor; Muriel Calder (1494-1575) 9th (and last) Thane of Cawdor, who married Sir John Campbell (d. 1546); Robert Calder (1650?-1723), Scottish clergyman of the Scottish Episcopalian church, a native of Elgin, born about 1650; Admiral Sir Robert Calder...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caldell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Caldell family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Calder who settled in Virginia in 1619, one year before the "Mayflower"; Will Calder, who settled in Georgia in 1735; Alex Calder and his wife Henrietta and four children, who came to Georgia in 1775.



The Caldell 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: Vigilans non cadit
Motto Translation: The vigilant man falls not.


  1. 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)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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