Ardán last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Ardán is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ardán.

Meaning of Ardán

A surname indicating Irish or Gaelic origins, derived from the word "ard" meaning high or noble.

Ardán, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ardán surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Ardán in America

Ardán is the 146011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ardán surname appeared 104 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ardán.

The history of the last name Ardán

The surname Ardan has its origins in the Celtic regions of Europe, particularly in Ireland, with its history traced back to the medieval period. In Gaelic, the name might derive from "ard," meaning high or noble, and "án," an affix sometimes used to suggest particular characteristics, which can be interpreted as "high or noble one."

Ardan is thought to have associations with the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. This region's historical richness includes numerous clans and families often documented through varying orthographic renderings. The name has also appeared in older records where it has been spelled as Ardan, Ardane, and Ardon, reflecting dialectical changes and the transcription practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in medieval Irish annals. Manuscripts such as the Annals of the Four Masters, which detail the history of Ireland from ancient times to the early modern period, include mentions of individuals bearing this name. A notable figure from these records is Brian Ardan, a chieftain who was documented in 1343 as playing a significant role in local governance in Ulster.

During the 16th century, a family bearing the name Ardan is noted in legal documents from County Antrim. This family's influence spanned several generations, with Patrick Ardan (born 1548, died 1612) being particularly prominent. He is recorded as having contested lands during the turbulent Tudor reconquest of Ireland.

In the 17th century, the name Ardan appears in military records, with James Ardan (born 1620, died 1679) serving as an officer in the army of the Confederate Ireland during the Irish Confederate Wars. His service is documented in several musters, reflecting the political upheavals of the time.

From the historical residences and hearth rolls of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, another notable figure, Siobhan Ardan (born 1675, died 1723), emerges. She was a landowner and agriculturist known for her innovative farming techniques in County Londonderry. Her legacy includes written records of her methods in agricultural manuscripts.

By the 18th century, the name Ardan had spread into Scotland. One significant individual during this time was Thomas Ardan (born 1710, died 1776), a merchant based in Glasgow. His business dealings and philanthropic efforts are recorded in various mercantile ledgers and city charters.

The surname Ardan continues to hold historical significance. Even as surnames evolve and adapt through generations, the roots of this name remain firmly planted in its Celtic and medieval Irish heritage, chronicled through these significant individuals and records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ardán

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ardán.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ardán was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.15% 100
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ardán was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ardán, please contact us.

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"Ardán last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/ardan-surname-popularity/.

"Ardán last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/ardan-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 May, 2025

Ardán last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/ardan-surname-popularity/.

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