Pardue
A surname most likely from a French nickname meaning “forgiven” or “pardoned,” though its exact English surname history is not fully settled.
The #5,821 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 51,977 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Pardue is usually explained as a surname derived from French pardu or a related form of pardonner, ultimately from Latin perdonare, meaning “to pardon” or “forgive.” In surname use, it likely began as a nickname for someone thought of as pardoned, reconciled, or otherwise “forgiven.” The spelling may also reflect English adaptation of a French-looking name after migration to the English-speaking world.
History
The surname is found chiefly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it is relatively uncommon. Its present spelling may have been shaped by regional pronunciation and later American record-keeping, so related forms can be hard to separate cleanly. Because the documentary trail is thin, the name’s precise pathway into English remains somewhat uncertain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Pardue is one of several surnames whose modern spelling can sit near another better-known form, Perdue, even when the family histories are not the same.