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![Show Contents]() Heardham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancient name of Heardham finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a guardian of cattle or sheep. The surname Heardham is derived from the Old English word hierdeman, which means herdman. Early Origins of the Heardham familyThe surname Heardham was first found in Norfolk, where Osbert Hirdam was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1166. A few years later, Simon le Hyrdeman was found in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1181 and John le Herdman, Walter Herdman were found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 1 The Herder variant is very rare but in this case, Nicholas le Herder was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327; and John Hurder was listed in Somerset in 1333. The name is derived from the Middle English word "herden," or "hurdern," literally meaning "to take care of, to tend," from the word "herdman." 1 Early History of the Heardham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heardham research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1268, 1272, 1273, 1307, 1524, 1762 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Heardham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Heardham Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Heardham family name include Herdman, Herdsman, Hurdman, Heardman, Herder, Hearden, Herden, Hirdman and many more. Early Notables of the Heardham familyAnother 25 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heardham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Heardham family to Ireland
Some of the Heardham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Heardham familyFor political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Heardham surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Lawrence Herder,who settled in Newfoundland in 1706; John Erdman who sailed to Philadelphia in 1737; G. Herder in Texas in 1836; Philip Hearden to Philadelphia, Pa. in 1851.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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England
Ireland
