Show ContentsFadden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Fadden

What does the name Fadden mean?

The ancestors of the Fadden family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The family name comes from the personal name Paidean. The Gaelic forms of the surname are Mac Phadein or Mac Phaidin, both of which mean son of Paidean or little Pat. 1

Early Origins of the Fadden family

The surname Fadden was first found in Kintyre, where the late Rev. J. G. Campbell says: "MacFadyens were said to have been the first possessors of Lochbuie, and when expelled they became a race of wandering artificers, Sliochd nan or-cheard-the race of goldsmiths in Mull."

"The earliest record of the name is in 1304 when Malcolm Macpadene appears as a charter witness at Achichendone in Kintyre. Conghan MacPaden petitioned for the archdeaconry of Argyll in 1390. John McFadyeane is in record in Edinburgh in 1457, and in 1473 a composition was made with Donald M'Fadzeane in Kirkcudbright." 1

Early History of the Fadden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fadden research. Another 417 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1499, 1507, 1511, 1532, 1540, 1618, 1620, 1628, 1641, 1643, 1672, 1675, 1681, 1684, 1733, 1737, 1741, 1769, 1794 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Fadden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fadden Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Fadden include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include McFadyen, Fadden, Fadyen, Faden, McFadin, Fadin, McFadwyn, Fadwyn, McFadyean, McFadyon, McFayden, Feyden and many more.

Early Notables of the Fadden family

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

Migration of the Fadden family to Ireland

Some of the Fadden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Fadden migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Fadden or a variant listed above:

Fadden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Fadden, who arrived in New England in 1726 2
Fadden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Eleanor Fadden, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 2
  • Manus Fadden, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Mary Fadden, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Nancy Fadden, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 2
  • Samuel Fadden, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fadden migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fadden Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Fadden, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "X.L." departing 10th June 1847 from Galway, Ireland; the ship arrived on 1st August 1847 but he died on board 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Fadden (post 1700) +

  • Prime Minister Arthur Fadden (1895-1973), Australian Prime Minister for six weeks during 1941


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. 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)
  3. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 75)


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