Surname Waldron - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering Waldron: An Emotional Journey Through iGENEA's DNA Test
Engaging with iGENEA was akin to piecing together a forgotten history. The DNA test instilled a profound sense of awe for the Waldron lineage and added depth to my self-image. The journey introduced a newfound connection with the Waldron surname, wrapping me in multiple layers of emotion.
Z. Waldron
read moreWaldron: What does the surname Waldron mean?
The surname Waldron is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from a place named "Wealdhere-tun" in Old English, meaning "the settlement or farm of Wealdhere." The "Weald-” part of the name refers to forested land and "here" means army, while "-tun" means a farm, settlement, or village. Thus, it could also indicate a person who lived by or tended to a forest near an army settlement. It features predominantly in areas with Old English or Old Norse influence, including the British Isles, especially in regions like Sussex. Over the centuries, variations of spelling have surfaced including Wallerand, Walrond, Waldron, among others. As with many surnames, it was used as a means to identify individuals with the same first name, with its meaning evolving based on geographic and historical context.
Order DNA origin analysisWaldron: Where does the name Waldron come from?
The last name Waldron is still common today, although primarily in English-speaking countries. According to Forebears, a genealogical website, in 2020 the surname Waldron was most commonly found in the United States, where it ranked 3,672nd out of 887,799 total family names. In England, Wales and Scotland, it ranked 6,140 and 35,267 respectively.
The independent, Celtic nations have smaller population sizes and therefore a much lower concentration of the surname. In Ireland, it ranked 843 and in Northern Ireland, Waldron ranked 1,295 on the list of common surnames. In Australia, the Waldron surname ranked 11,402 and in Canada 1,904th.
It is presumed that the surname is a derivative of the Old English word ‘weald’ meaning ‘forest’, however the origins before that remain somewhat unknown. It may also have been derived from the pre 7th century personal name 'Waegheard' meaning 'voyager on the sea'.
The Waldron surname is most closely associated with the Welsh and Irish populations. English and Scottish populations with the Waldron surname likely descended from Normans who invaded Britain in the 11th century, many of which ultimately settled in Wales and Ireland.
It is also believed that Waldrons may originate in France where the name is also spelled Waldern, Waldrenn, and Walderne. A Norman family bearing the first name Wautier de Waldrenn is mentioned in 1180 in Nantes, France and the lineage can be traced through many French documents of the 13th century.
Variations of the surname Waldron
The origin of the surname Waldron is thought to have developed from the two Middle English given names Walde (from the Germanic Waldo or Weald) and Ron (from the Germanic RAGIN, meaning 'advice'). Thus the surname could have developed as 'the one who gave advice' or 'the wise one'.
Variants and spelling of the surname Waldron are generally found in its many regional variations and spellings, such as Valderon, Walteron, Walderon and Waudron. Common surnames derived from Waldron include Waldren, Waldron, Waldern, Wallern, Valdern, Vaulderan, Wauldren and Wowarden.
In Ireland, Waldron is often seen as Ward or Warde. This is the more commonly accepted Irish spelling of the surname. The Irish pronunciation is usually wawrd. Other spellings can include Macford, Macferran, Macgford, Macferrian, Macganford, Malloy and Moyller. In Scotland, Waldron is seen as MacWaldron, Waldrane, MacValdron, Kalderoun and Calderon.
The surname Waldron is recorded in England back to the 1200's, and in Scotland from the 13th century. The surname is found scattered throughout Britain and Ireland today, with the majority of it's bearers found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, as well as across Ireland.
Famous people with the name Waldron
- Henry Waldron, professional golfer
- Patrick Waldron, a British comedian
- David Waldron, Chief of the New York Fire Department
- Bill Waldron, American politician
- Tom Waldron, English football manager
- Ryan Waldron, rugby union player
- Trevor Waldron, a former Australian cricketer
- Chris Waldron, American actor
- Dale Waldron, former Australian rules footballer
- Maria Waldron, British chef and TV presenter