Cardan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

Etymology of Cardan

What does the name Cardan mean?

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Cardan surname lived in the village of Carden in the county of Cheshire. This surname is derived from the Old English word cairn which was a rock structure, often as simple as a small pile of stones, serving as a memorial or marker of an important place. The surname may have also used been used as a nickname for a stubborn person. In such a case, it would have been derived from the word Cardon, meaning thistle.

Early Origins of the Cardan family

The surname Cardan was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Cardan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cardan research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1086 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cardan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cardan Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Cardan are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Cardan include: Carden, Cardon, Cardin, Cawarden and others.

Early Notables of the Cardan family

More information is included under the topic Early Cardan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cardan family to Ireland

Some of the Cardan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cardan migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Cardan or a variant listed above:

Cardan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Juan Cardan, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1831 1

The Cardan 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 amore
Motto Translation: By fidelity and love.

Sources +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)