This interesting name is of Old French origin. Introduced into both England and Scotland after the famous Conquest of England in 1066, it can be either habitational or occupational. In both cases it is derived from the French "jardin", meaning a garden. As a topographical name it denoted residence by or near a garden, and as an occupational name, an owner or worker at such a place. For many centuries the duty of the gardener was to be a cultivator of herbs, spices and vegetables, not until the 17th century was time gioven to ornamental lawns and flower beds as we know them today. The surname is first recorded in Scotland, as shown below, and appears in England in 1296, when Matilda atte Jardin is listed in the Sussex Subsidy tax rolls. The modern forms are Jardin, Jardine, Jerdein, Jerdan, Jerdin and Jerdon. An interesting namebearer was James Jardine (1776 - 1858). He constructed the Grand Union Canal which runs up the centre of England from London. Douglas Jardine, who died in 1951 was a famous cricketer ane successful captain of England during the 1930's. A coat of arms granted to the Jardine family of Edinburgh has the blazon of a white shield, charged with five bezants on a red saltire, and on a red chief, three gold mullets. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Winfredus de Jardine. This was dated 1150 a.d., when he was a charter witness in the records of the abbeys of Kelso and Arbroath. This was during the reign of David 1st, king of Scotland, 1124 - 1153. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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