Show ContentsEardly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Eardly

What does the name Eardly mean?

The ancestors of the bearers of the Eardly family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the parish of Eardley in Staffordshire.

Early Origins of the Eardly family

The surname Eardly was first found in Staffordshire 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 Eardly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eardly research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273 and 1824 are included under the topic Early Eardly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eardly Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Eardly include Eardley, Eardisley, Erdley, Eardlie, Ardley, Ardlie, Eardleigh, Ardleigh, Ardisley and many more.

Early Notables of the Eardly family

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


Eardly migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Eardly or a variant listed above:

Eardly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Eardly, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1849

Contemporary Notables of the name Eardly (post 1700) +

  • John Eardly (1928-1997), American jazz musician
  • Sergeant George Harold Eardly (1912-1991), British soldier awarded the Victoria Cross during WWII 1


The Eardly 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: Non nobis solum
Motto Translation: Not for ourselves alone.


  1. World War 2 Awards.com - EARDLY, George. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) George Eardly. Retrieved from http://www.ww2awards.com/person/42


Houseofnames.com on Facebook