Show ContentsDarderne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Darderne

What does the name Darderne mean?

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Darderne is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Ardern in the county of Warwick. The interpretation of the name, however, varies depending on the county of origin. In Cheshire, Kent and Hampshire, the name assumes the local meaning of dwelling-house, and in Yorkshire, it has the curious meaning of eagle valley or gravel valley.

Early Origins of the Darderne family

The surname Darderne was first found in the county of Warwickshire, from very ancient times, when Hugh de Arden recovered some of his family's lost estates after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Henry de Arden, his successor, about 1130 A.D. held five knights' fees from the Norman Earl of Warwick. This line can be traced to the present family seat at Longcroft Hall in Staffordshire.

"No family can claim a more noble origin that the house of Ardern, descended in the male line from the Saxon Earls of Warwick before the Conquest. The name of Arden was assumed from the Woodlands of Arden, in the North of Warwickshire, by Siward de Arden, in the reign of Henry I." 1

"The priory of Shulbrede, about half a mile from the church, in a sequestered spot, was founded by Ralph de Arderne, about the beginning of the reign of Henry III., for five canons of the order of St. Augustine." 2

John Arderne (1307-1392) was arguably England's first surgeon and one of the first of his time to devise workable cures. He hailed from Newark-on-Trent, Nottingham but moved to London where he is thought to have been admitted as a member of the Guild of Surgeons.

Early History of the Darderne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Darderne research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1307, 1392, 1452, 1523, 1537, 1542, 1545, 1558, 1563, 1570, 1583, 1608, 1636, 1691 and 1843 are included under the topic Early Darderne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Darderne Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Darderne has been spelled many different ways, including Ardern, Arden, Arderne, Adron, Harden, Ardin and many more.

Early Notables of the Darderne family

Notables of the family at this time include John Arderne (1307-1392), an English surgeon and one of the first of his time to devise workable cures. Some describe him as England's first surgeon. Robert Arden was executed in 1452 for supporting the uprising of Richard, Duke of York. Edward Arden (1542?-1583), was an English nobleman and head of the Arden family, became a Catholic martyr upon his execution. He "was a probably innocent victim of the rigorous severity adopted by the ministers of Queen Elizabeth in order to defeat the numerous Roman Catholic conspiracies in favour of Mary Queen of Scots...
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Darderne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Darderne family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Dardernes to arrive in North America: Robert Arden, who settled in Virginia in 1638; James Ardin, who landed in North America in 1690; Robert Ardern, who came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1758.



  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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