Wardrobe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

The surname Wardrobe is thought to have emerged in the borderland region between Northern England and Scotland. The name is derived from the Old Norman "warderobe," a name given to an official of the wardrobe, and was most likely first borne by someone who held this distinguished position. 1

The name is "from the office of keeper of the royal wardrobe. The wardrobe was a repository not only for articles of dress, but for furniture not actually in use, and for foreign spices and confections." 2

Early Origins of the Wardrobe family

The surname Wardrobe was first found in Scotland, where Robertus de Warderob witnessed a charter by Countess Margaret of Buchan in favor of the Abbey of Arbroath in 1210. "John de Wardroba laid claim to certain lands in Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, c. 1270, and Randinus de Warderoba witnessed a quitclaim of Beeth Waldef in Fife, 1278. Alisaundre de la Garderobe of Edinburghshire and David de la Garderobe of Fife rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. John de Gardropa was appointed proluctor in Aberdeen, 1317, and Adam de Gardropa confirmed the transfer of lands to John Crab there in 1351. Thomas Vardrop de Gothynys acquired a fourth part of Thenstoun, 1450, and in 1465 as Thomas Wardropare de Gothnys he had a charter of confirmation of the lands of Thanystoune in the thanage of Kintore. Alexander Wardroper and James Wardroper witnessed a charter of lands in Scone, 1491." 2

Further south in England, Joscelin de la Warderob(e) was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Berkshire, 1219, 1220; Thomas de Garderoba was found in Yorkshire in 1286; John atte Warderobe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327; and Thomas Warderope was registered in 1334. 3

Early History of the Wardrobe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wardrobe research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1296, 1450, 1525, 1527, 1531, 1547, 1606, 1608, 1671, 1738, 1758, 1782, 1797, 1801, 1803, 1804, 1808, 1814, 1826, 1830, 1834, 1843 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Wardrobe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wardrobe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Wardrop, Wardrope, Wardrobe, Waldrop, Waldroppe, Waldrope, Waldropp, Waldrep and many more.

Early Notables of the Wardrobe family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Wardrop of Kilpatrick, scion of the family, and James Wardrop (1782-1869), a prominent Scottish surgeon who was known for his "Essays on the Morbid Anatomy of the Human Eye," as well as for his extraordinary surgical skills. He was " the youngest child of James Wardrop (1738-1830) by his wife Marjory, daughter of Andrew Marjoribanks of Marjoribanks, was born on 14 Aug. 1782 at Torbane Hill, a small property which had belonged to his forefathers for many generations. It adjoined the parish celebrated as the birthplace of the Hunters and...
Another 332 words (24 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wardrobe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wardrobe migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Wardrobe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Wardrobe, who arrived in New York in 1774
John Wardrobe, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1774 4

Wardrobe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Wardrobe, who emigrated from Scotland to Dominica in 1811

Wardrobe migration to Australia +

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

Wardrobe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Wardrobe, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

The Wardrobe 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: Superna sequor
Motto Translation: I follow heavenly things.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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 Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora