Edowes

This very unusual name is a variant derivative of the popular Olde English female personal name "Eadgyd". This is a compound which breaks down into the elements "Ead" meaning "prosperity" and "gyd" a battle. The name in a shortened form, was also found as a medieval form of "Adam". This, however was specific to Scotland and North East England and was probably purely dialectal. The surname development has included the alternative spellings of Eadie (Scotland) and Eakin (Ireland), both patronymics, and the more popular Edis, and Ede, which developed as Edison, Eddison, Edowes and Eddoes. The name development includes John Edus (1277, The Abbey of Ely, Suffolk and William Edowes (1587, London). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Eddoes, which was dated 28th March, 1647, christened at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, during the reign of King Charles 1, known as "The Martyr", 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.