| ![Show Contents]() Jerdan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland Etymology of JerdanWhat does the name Jerdan mean? In ancient Scotland, Jerdan was a Strathclyde-Briton name for someone who lived in Angus. Jerdan is thought to have been a Norman name that made it's way North into Scotland. It is ultimately derived from the Old French word jardin, or "garden." Further research indicates that the family settled very early in the barony of Gardyne in the parish of Kirkden, Angus. It is from these lands that the family takes its name; although a more literal interpretation of the name would mean 'of the garden.' The family also held estates in Arbroath, Aberdeen, Banff and Perth for centuries. 1 Early Origins of the Jerdan familyThe surname Jerdan was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where one of the first official records was Winefredus de Jardine in 1153 when he witnessed charters by King David 1st to the Abbeys of Kelso and Arbroath. Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. "Umfrid de Jardin witnessed a charter by Robert de Bruys to the Abbey of Arnbroath, c. 1178-80, and as Humphrey del Gardin witnessed confirmation of a fishery in Torduf c. 1194-1211. Patrick de Gardinus was cleric to the bishop of Glasgow c. 1200, and Sir Humphrey de Gardino witnessed a resignation of lands in Annandale a. 1245." 1 Early History of the Jerdan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jerdan research. Another 338 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1014, 1296, 1476, 1597, 1672, 1683, 1684, 1695, 1699, 1712, 1737, 1777, 1800, 1885, 1906, 1910, 1916, 1918 and 1919 are included under the topic Early Jerdan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Jerdan Spelling VariationsPrior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Jerdan has been spelled Jardine, Jardin, Gardin, Gardyn, Garden and others. Early Notables of the Jerdan familyAnother 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jerdan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Jerdan family to IrelandSome of the Jerdan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Jerdan familyIn such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them: Andrew and Bessie Jardin landed in America in 1685; Christopher Jardine settled in New Orleans in 1822; George, Joseph, and Lewis Jardine settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1798 and 1846.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Jerdan (post 1700) | + |
- Edward J. Jerdan, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Laredo, Texas, 1856-57 2
- William Jerdan (1782-1869), Scottish journalist, born at Kelso, Roxburghshire, on 16 April 1782, the son of John Jerdan (d. 1796), a small landowner, by his wife, Agnes Stuart (d. 1820) 3
| Historic Events for the Jerdan family | + |
Bismarck - Franz Jerdan (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4
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: Cave adsum
Motto Translation: Beware I am here.
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