Show ContentsVardy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Vardy is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Vardy family lived in Cumberland. Their name, however, is a reference to the Barony of La Ferte, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Early Origins of the Vardy family

The surname Vardy was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat anciently after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Vardy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Vardy research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1435, 1473 and 1645 are included under the topic Early Vardy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Vardy Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Vardy family name include Vardy, Vardey, Vartey, Varty, Verty, Vertie and others.

Early Notables of the Vardy family

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

Vardy Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Vardy is the 429th most popular surname with an estimated 109 people with that name. 1


United States Vardy migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Vardy family to immigrate North America:

Vardy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Vardy, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 2
Vardy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mrs. Vardy, her husband and two children, settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1765
Vardy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Vardy, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1843 2

Canada Vardy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Vardy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Vardy U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 3
Vardy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • George Vardy and his two brothers from Devon settled at Clay Pits, Newfoundland in 1819 4
  • William Vardy of Lower Burgeo, Newfoundland, a fisherman in 1846 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Vardy (post 1700) +

  • Jamie Richard Vardy (b. 1987), English professional footballer, Member of the England National Team
  • John Vardy (1718-1765), English architect attached to the Royal Office of Works from 1736
  • Royce Vardy (b. 1980), Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond between 2000 and 2003
  • Peter Vardy (b. 1945), British academic, philosopher, theologian and author
  • Peter Vardy (b. 1976), former Australian rules footballer who played with Adelaide and Melbourne
  • Sir Peter Vardy (b. 1947), British businessman and philanthropist, of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom, he was placed 388th, with an estimated fortune of £140 million
  • Nathan Vardy (b. 1991), Australian rules footballer for the West Coast Eagles
  • Vardy A. McBee (1775-1864), American saddlemaker, merchant, farmer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Lincoln County, 1860-61, often referred to as the father of Greenville, South Carolina 5


  1. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  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. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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