Gethen

This unusual and interesting name is of Welsh origin, from the Welsh personal names "Guto or Gutyn", themselves short forms of "Gruffydd" or "Gruffudd", which is composed of the elements "Griphuid" - grip plus Cryf - strong, plus "udd" - lord. The name is well represented in the records of the early Welsh Kings. The surname can be found in a variety of forms, ranging from "Gething, Gethen, Gettin(g)s, Gittens and Gittin(g)s" to "Getten". Some of the modern-day name bearers may derive from the Welsh word "cethin", meaning "dusky, swarthy", sometimes used as a nickname, one "Humphrey Gethen" of Worthenbury is recorded in the "Records of Wills at Chester" for the year 1633. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Eynon Gethin. which was dated 1332, G.P. Jones "The Extent of Chirkland, 1391 - 1393". during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.