Kardwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Kardwell

What does the name Kardwell mean?

The name Kardwell came to England with the ancestors of the Kardwell family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Kardwell family lived in Wiltshire, after arriving from the cantor of Cardville, or Cardunville, near Caen, Normandy. 1 The place name literally means "thistly estate [Old French cordon (mod. chardon), a thistle, from Latin cardu-us + French ville." 2

Early Origins of the Kardwell family

The surname Kardwell was first found in Derbyshire where the Pipe Rolls of 1195 list Adam de Caldewella as holding lands there at that time. "Ernald de Cardunville held a fief from the See of Lincoln, 1165, and Peter de Cardeville from the barony of Estoteville, York 3. Paganus de Cardeville had a grant in Hereford 1156. Walter de Cardeville was witness, 1170, to a charter in Lincoln. Richard de Cardeville was witness (13th cent.) to a charter of the Bishop of Winchester." 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing for the family: William de Cardevile who held lands in Wiltshire. 4

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I included an entry for Richard de Cardevill, Southamptonshire, Henry III-Edward I. 5

In Yorkshire, Richard de Coldewell was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 and a few years later, Richard Cauldwell was listed there in 1381. 6

Early History of the Kardwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kardwell research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1273, 1606 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kardwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kardwell Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Cardwell, Cardville, Cairdwell, Cairdville, Cardvell, Cartwell, Cardvill, Cartville, Kartwell, Kardwell, Kartville, Kardville, Kairdwell and many more.

Early Notables of the Kardwell family

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

Migration of the Kardwell family to Ireland

Some of the Kardwell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 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 Kardwell family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Kardwell or a variant listed above: John Cardwell settled in Dover, Maine, in the year 1654; Calvert, Henry, John, William, and W.H. Cardwell, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1760 and 1868..

The Kardwell 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: Agissez honnetement
Motto Translation: Act honestly

Sources +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199â€“1216)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)