De Bheardún

de BHEARDÚN—XI—de Verdoun, de Fardun, Verdon, Varden, etc.; Norman 'de Verdun.' i.e., of Verdun, the historic town in the east of France. The de Verduns came to England with William the Conqueror and settled in Leicestershire. Bertram de Verdun, the founder of the Irish branch of the family, came hither at the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion, was made seneschal of Ireland by Henry II and granted the manors of Dundalk and Clonmore, and other estates in Co. Louth. His great-grandson, John de Verdon, by marriage with an heiress of the de Lacys, added to his already extensive patrimony a moiety of Meath, and succeeded to the office of constable of Ireland, which had been originally granted to Hugh de Lacy. He also possessed the castle and manors of Croom and Castle Robert in Co. Limerick. In 1314, Theobald de Verdon became justiciary, but dying in 1317 without heirs male, his estates were divided between four daughters who all married English noblemen. The name however continued to be represented in Louth down to the end of the 17th century, as we find among those attainted in 1642 a John Verdon, and in 1691 another John Verdon, a descendant of the former. Of the Limerick Verdons, William was mayor of the city in 1553; and John Verdon, in 1579, was sovereign of Kilmallock, and in 1585 represented that town in parliament. Several of the Verdons of Kilmallock were transplanted to Connacht in 1653.

Alphabetical Index to Irish Surnames