Show ContentsWaldie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Waldie surname comes from a Scandinavian personal name, which came from the Old Norse "Valþiófr," composed of the elements "val" meaning "battle," and "þiofr," or "thief."

Early Origins of the Waldie family

The surname Waldie was first found in Roxburghshire where they had been Lords of the manor of Waldeve, near Kelso, from ancient times. 1

"This family, long settled near Kelso, co. Roxburgh, have at different times written themselves Waitho, Watho, Waltho, and Waldie. " 2

However another source notes that the family could have originated further south in England: "As Waltho or Waldie the name crept northwards into Roxburghshire, and there the surname has flourished for centuries." 3

Early History of the Waldie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Waldie research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1152, 1400, 1439, 1508, 1526, 1531 and 1547 are included under the topic Early Waldie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Waldie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Waldie, Waddy, Waddie, Waldy, Waitho, Waltho and others.

Early Notables of the Waldie family

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

Ireland Migration of the Waldie family to Ireland

Some of the Waldie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Waldie migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Waldie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Waldie, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 4
Waldie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adam Waldie, who settled in Philadelphia in 1820
  • Isabella Waldie, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1853 4
  • James Morrison Waldie, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1853 4

Canada Waldie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Waldie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Willaim and Isabel Crozier Waldie, who settled in Ontario, Canada in 1831

Australia Waldie migration to Australia +

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

Waldie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Watson Waldie, aged 23, a baker, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Ascendant" 5

New Zealand Waldie migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Waldie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Janet Waldie, aged 25, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgway" in 1842
  • J. Waldie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Worsley" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th October 1858 6
  • Mrs. Janet Waldie, Scottish settler with 2 sons and 1 daughter from Edinburgh travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 7
  • Mr. John Waldie, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 7
  • Mrs. Waldie, Scottish settler with 2 children travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Sevilla" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1864 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Waldie (post 1700) +

  • D. J. Waldie (b. 1948), American essayist, memoirist, translator, and editor
  • Marc Robert Waldie (1955-1984), American gold medalist volleyball player at the 1984 Summer Olympics
  • Jerome Russell "Jerry" Waldie (1925-2009), American politician, United States Representative from California
  • Jerome Russell Waldie (1925-2009), American Democratic Party politician, Member of California State Assembly, 1959-66; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1964 8
  • Charlotte Anne Waldie (1788-1859), birth name of Mrs Eaton, Scottish author of ‘Waterloo Days,’ second daughter of George Waldie of Hendersyde Park, Roxburghshire 9
  • John Waldie (1833-1907), Scottish-born, Canadian politician
  • Ian Waldie, Australian photographer, UK Picture Editor Awards' Photographer of the Year 1999


The Waldie 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: Fidelis
Motto Translation: Faithful.


  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ASCENDANT 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ascendant.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 Jan. 2019


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