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Eden History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Eden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

Etymology of Eden

What does the name Eden mean?

The name Eden is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in the region of Eden in Durham. "Though the pedigree is not traced higher than the year 1413, there is no reason to doubt that the name is local and derived from either Castle Eden or Little Eden in the county of Durham, where, as Mr. Courthope asserts, the family were resident for several generations prior to the close of the XIV. century." 1

The source Norman People, pushes back earlier: "William de Torp or Torpes and his fief in Normandy are mentioned 1180 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae), he granted part of his lordship of Eden, Durham, to the Church of Durham before 1180. His descendant, Eustace de Eden, granted part of Eden to the same church 1318. Eustace and Utred de Edene were witnesses to the charter of William de Torp of Eden, being probably his younger brothers. The family appears to have always remained seated in Durham." 2

Early Origins of the Eden family

The surname Eden was first found in Suffolk. Hellaby Hall in Stainton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire was an ancient mansion on the property of Sir R. J. Eden, but is now a farmhouse. 3

Some of the family have recently branched to Windleston in Durham. "It comprises by computation 1250 acres, and has been long the property of the Eden family, of whom Sir Robert Johnson Eden, Bart., rebuilt Windleston Hall about twenty years since [(1860s.)] " 3

West Auckland in Durham also had some early records of the family. "The place gives the title of Baron to the family of Eden, who formerly resided here: the estates now belong to Sir R. J. Eden, Bart." 3

Let's take a moment to turn back the pages of time for this family and explore some of the early rolls. In Oxfordshire, we found Tomas filius Edon listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1203; Edon le Poleter in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1270; Roger Edun in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327; and Stephen Edoun in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. In Northumberland, Nicholas de Edune was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1178 and William de Eden was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1256. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes: Nicholas filius Edon, Norfolk; Roger filius Edon, Norfolk; Nel filius Edine, Oxfordshire; and Henry Edon, Oxfordshire. 5

Early History of the Eden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eden research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1521, 1535, 1544, 1546, 1576 and 1645 are included under the topic Early Eden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eden Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Eden were recorded, including Eden, Edin, Edden, Edens and others.

Early Notables of the Eden family

Distinguished members of the family include

Richard Eden (1521?-1576), English translator, born in Herefordshire about 1521, and studied at Queens' College, Cambridge, 1535-1544, under Sir Thomas Smith; he held a position in the Treasury 1544-1...
Thomas Eden (d. 1645), was Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and the youngest son of Richard Eden of South Hanningfield, Essex. 6

Eden Ranking

In the United States, the name Eden is the 4,941^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Eden family to Ireland

Some of the Eden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eden migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Eden family emigrate to North America:

Eden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alice Eden, who settled in Boston in 1637
Alice Eden, age 17, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637
Allis Eden, aged 18, who arrived in New England in 1637 aboard the ship "John & Dorothy" 8
Thomas Eden, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 8
Richard Eden, a bonded passenger who settled in America in 1683
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Eden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henry C. Eden, whose Oath of Allegiance was recorded in Philadelphia in 1798

Eden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Matthew Eden, who landed in New York, NY in 1822 8
Jane Eden, who landed in New York, NY in 1826 8
H M Eden, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 8
Hilrich Eden, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 8
James Eden, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1859 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Eden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Rennie Eden, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1900 8
William, Eden Jr., who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1900 8
Lorraine Lambton Eden, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1900 8
Leonard Edgeton Eden, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1902 8
Herbert L Eden, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1904 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Eden migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Eden Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Richard Eden, who settled in Nova Scotia in 1749
Richard Eden, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Eden Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joseph Eden, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Eden migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Eden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Ann Eden, (b. 1791), aged 22, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Robert Eden, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Joseph Eden, British convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Cornwall" on 28th February 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11

Eden migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12

Eden Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Eden, who was recorded in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Eden (post 1700) +

Roger Eden (1905-1970), American composer, arranger and associate producer
Barbara Eden (b. 1934), American film and television actress and singer perhaps best known for her role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie 13
Samuel L. Eden, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate 18th District, 1926 14
Morton A. Eden (b. 1915), American politician, Candidate for justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1949, 1951, 1952 14
Leroy Eden, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Governor of Florida, 1978 14
John Rice Eden (1826-1909), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Illinois, 1863-65, 1873-79, 1885-87; Candidate for Governor of Illinois, 1868 14
Edwin Winfield Eden (1887-1953), American politician, Mayor of Highland Park, New Jersey, 1928-30 14
Charles H. Eden, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 1st District, 1942; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 1960 14
Bruce Eden, American politician, Representative from New Jersey 8th District, 1990 14
Sir Frederick Morton Eden (1766-1809), 2nd Baronet, of Maryland, an English writer on poverty and pioneering social investigator
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Eden family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Henry Eden, British Petty Office Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15

The Eden 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: Si sit prudentia
Motto Translation: If there be prudence.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cornwall
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Barbara Eden. (Retrieved 2011, January 21) Barbara Eden. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Eden
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html