Kidston

This is a Scottish locational name from the lands of Kidston in the parish of Peebles. The name means "kide" or "kydes" "tun", the first element being a personal name and "tun" meaning village or settlement, so as a surname Kidston means "of Kides village". Locational names such as this were usually given to the owner(s) of the land or to those who lived there or who moved from that place to live or work in another village or town. Roger de Kydeston was juror on an "Inquest touching the lands of Hopkelchoc" (as written) in 1259. As Roger de Kedistun he is recorded as a juror in the Enquiry regarding a peat bog at Wallthamshope in 1262, (Records of Peebles). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilchrist Kideston. which was dated 1203, in the "Records of the Abbey of Kelso". during the reign of King William the Lion of Scotland, 1165 - 1214. 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.