Archdale Family History

Perhaps from Airedale (WR Yorks) recorded as Ayresdale in 1539. This is the dale or valley of the River Aire whose principal town is Leeds where the surname appears as Harsedale (1545) and Arsdall (1588). Further away in the Sheffield area it was apparently altered by folk etymology from Hayrsdall to Horsedall and through palatalization of -s- to -sh- and -ch- to Arshdale and Archdale.

It is alternatively possible that the name in (2) migrated to Sheffield where it became confused with A(y)rsdal(e), of uncertain origin. The relevance of Stephanus Erchisdale 1379 in Poll Tax (Ridlington and Crostwight Norfolk) is doubtful.

If the name is of Staffs origin perhaps it is an altered form of Archedine attested in John Archedine 1588 in IGI (Lichfield Staffs); Francys Archadayne 1622 in IGI (Wirksworth Derbys); Francis Archedine 1652 in IGI (Kirk Ireton Derbys); Francis Archdine joiner of Cricke Derbys 1656 in TNA.

This could be from Anglo-Norman French arcediaen ‘archdeacon’ (compare Archdeacon). Forms in -l- would be an irregular development suggested by the word dale.