This interesting surname is of early medieval English origin, and derives from the Latin male given name "(H)adrianus", originally an ethnic name for someone from the seaport of Adria - which gave its name to the Adriatic Sea - who settled in Rome and became known as "the man from Adria" (in Latin, "Adrianus"). The ultimate origin of "Adria" is the Latin "ater", coal-black, referring to the black sands of the seaport. The personal name was first introduced into England in the 7th Century when a North African monk, St.
Adrian, was sent to Canterbury by Pope St. Vitalian in 668. The flourishing state of the English church at the time owes much to this saint. The only English pope, Nicholas Brakespear (died 1159), chose the name Adrian 1V, despite this however, Adrian was never in widespread use in England. In 1186, one Adrianus janitor was noted in Documents of St. Benet of Holme, Norfolk. Early examples of the surname include: John Adrien (Suffolk, 1273); John Adrian, Sheriff of London (1258); and Ralph Adrien (London, 1277). On February 10th 1547, Thomas, son of John Adrian, was christened at St. Dionis Backchurch, London, and on January 16th 1611, Marie Adrian and Robart Freman were married at Howden, Yorkshire. A Coat of Arms granted to the Adrian family is a red shield with four gold escallops in cross, the top of each shell meeting in centre point. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Adrian, which was dated circa 1232, in the "Cartulary of St. Mary", Clerkenwell, London, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Research into the possible origins of adrien leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname adrien is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of adrien.
There is a considerable probability that adrien has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where adrien is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname adrien provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named adrien are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname adrien, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of adrien developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname adrien.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of adrien could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about adrien and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname adrien, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname adrien were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname adrien, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname adrien, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of adrien are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of adrien.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of adrien, and at the same time, of surnames in general.