Headrick

This unusual surname is a variant spelling of the Olde English "Ead-Ric", a 7th Century personal name, in which the elements translate as "Prosperity-Powerful". The "modern" surnames are usually Edrich, Edridge and Headrick, the latter being a dialectal alternative which probably owes something to the Normans of 1066, who had difficulty with original English pronunciation - and vice-versa. The Domesday Book of 1086 records (as personal names) Aedricus and Edricus, whilst the rather later Knight Templar (Crusader) Rolls of 1185 give Thomas Hedricus, the probable fore-runner of the modern surname. The alternative spellings in the name include Headrige (1628), Hedrick (1717) and Hedricke (1797). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Headrick, which was dated December 23rd 1722, christened at St. Dunstans Church, Stepney, during the reign of King George I, "Hanover George", 1715 - 1727. 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.