Map of England showing where the Cardew arms are recorded
The Cardew arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Cardew arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Cardew Family in England
The surname Cardew is locational in origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Cumbrian village of Cardew, which sits near the city of Carlisle. In the ancient Brittonic language, the name is believed to translate to the fort on the black wall or the black fortress. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved away from their ancestral roots in the north of England to establish themselves in the historic city of York. Records confirm that the family was well-settled in York by 1620, where they lived as part of the growing urban population during the reign of King James I. This migration reflects the broader movement of families during this era as people sought new opportunities in England’s major regional centers.
Cardew Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Caer Dew
A Cornish place name meaning fort of the black man or god.
This name
CardewDerived from a Cornish location referring to a fortified settlement or black fortress.
also spelled
Cardue
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Mills, Anthony David. A Dictionary of British Place Names. 2011
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
