Show ContentsCardans History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cardans dates back to the days of Medieval France, in the region of Normandy. It is derived from their residence in Normandy at Chardon.

Early Origins of the Cardans family

The surname Cardans was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where this distinguished family has held a family seat since ancient times.

The first record of the family was in 1285 when the Count of Brioude is recorded. Guillaume de Chardon is registered as a taxpayer in 1329 and Pierre de Chardon, Priest, Titular of the vicarage of Saint-Amand, and founder of the Saint-Agrève Church in the town of Puy, is recorded in 1385. Due to his dedication to matters of the society in which he lived, Pierre de Chardon, in 1435, was one of eight notable inhabitants to whom the Baron of Allègre gave the right to build a public building in the fortified castle of Allègre in the event of a siege.

By the 15th century the family was well established in the region of Monlet and several members of the family made a distinctive contribution toward the community in which they lived and were rewarded with lands, titles, and letters patent confirming their nobility. 1

Early History of the Cardans family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cardans research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1485, 1643, 1650, 1683, 1700, 1713, 1747, 1751 and 1805 are included under the topic Early Cardans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cardans Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Cardans is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Chardon, Chardant, Chardont, Chardons, Cardon, Cardan, Cardont, Cardant, Cardons, Chardantes, Chardontes, Carrdon, Cardans, Chardonts, Cardone, Cardond, Chardone, Chardones, Charrdon, Cartond, Carrdons and many more.

Early Notables of the Cardans family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Antoine-Amable de Chardon, a Knight and the-Lord of Chardon, Souffleyt, Serres and Chazelet; and Sir (John) Jean Chardin (1643-1713), born Jean-Baptiste Chardin, a French jeweler and traveler whose ten-volume book "The Travels of Sir John Chardin" is regarded as one of the finest works of early Western scholarship on Persia and...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cardans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cardans family

French settlers came early to North American, following in the wake of the explorers, and creating New France. Quebec City, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain is said to have been the first American site founded as a permanent settlement, rather than as just a commercial outpost. But emigration was slow, in 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 French people in Quebec, and by 1663, when the region was officially made The Royal Colony of New France, by Louis XIV, there still only around 500 settlers. Over 2,000 would arrive during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted immigrants, both noble and commoner from France. By 1675, there were around 7000 French in the colony, and by that same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Despite the loss of the Colony to England, the French people flourished in Lower Canada. Among settlers to North America of the Cardans surname were Magdeleine Chardon settled in Carolina in 1695-1696; A. Chardon, aged 29; settled in New Orleans in 1821; Anthony Chas. Chardon, aged 27; settled in New Orleans in 1821.



  1. Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook