This is a very interesting surname. It is English and locational, but is often thought to be Celtic and Welsh. In fact it originates from a village called Carden in the county of Cheshire, near the town of Malpas. This place which does not seem to be recorded in the 'Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names', a surprising omission, was originally recorded as Kawrdin. This is from the pre 7th century 'carr' meaning a rock, and 'wordign', a farm or enclosed area. In fact the village name may refer to a fortified farm perhaps built of stone or situated on a rock. It is said that there was castle at the village in ancient times, and this was replaced by a manor house in about 1640, although in turn this was burnt down in 1912. The surname is equally ancient, and being locational may refer either to the original lord of the manor and his descendants or to people who left the village, and moved elsewhere, being given for easy identification, the name of their former home. The first recording is believed to be that of Richard de Carwardyn in the accounts of the chamberlains of the county of Cheshire in the year 1302.

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