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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/3IH.2ACEB/116.125
Message Board Post:
I have Caddens' in my tree going back to circa 1730 in Ayrshire & Renfrewshire,
Scotland.
It is possible that the Cadden's in Northern Ireland were originally from Scotland.
When Northern Ireland was annexed by the British they sent over farmers from northern
England and Scotland to populate it. Many of these families returned to Scotland during
the potato famine and the industrial revolution of the 1800's for jobs. My
g/g/grandmother Mary Cadden married William Murray (clearly a Scottish name) who was born
in Ireland.
I don't think there will be a family crest for a family with such ordinary roots. I
certainly have never seen one. Only very wealthy families had a crest and most crests
have been created in recent times by companies trying to make some money and are generally
absolute rubbish.
I have seen the name Cadden spelled in a variety of ways - Caddan, Caddin, Caddon (also
with 1 'd'). This was common prior to about 1850, or thereabouts, as many people
couldn't write and it was up to the Minister or Clerk to decide on the spelling.
Bill Deans (Glasgow).