Type Surname (from occupation & from nickname)
Other Forms FormsChardinal, Cardinel, Cardonal, Cardonel, Chardonel, Cardenal, Cardenil, Cardinale, Cardinall, Cardinalle, Cardonall, Cardonale, Cardonalle, Cardonell, Cardonelle, Cardonele, Cardonnal, Chardinnal, Cardinnel, Cardonnal, Cardonnel, Cardennal, Cardennil, Cardinnale, Cardinnall, Cardinnalle, Cardonnall, Cardonnale, Cardonnalle, Cardonnell, Cardonnelle
Meaning & History
From the rank of the Catholic Church, derived from Latin cardinalis "pertaining to a door hinge", through the notion of the function of such priests as ‘pivots’ of church life. It was used as a nickname for someone who habitually wore red or acted like a cardinal.