Littledyke

This unusual and interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and can be either a topographical or a locational surname, found almost exclusively in Lincolnshire in early records. The name is composed of the Old English pre 7th Century elements "lytel", little, small, in Middle English "littel", and "dic", dyke, ditch, earthwork, in Middle English "diche, dike". As a topographical surname, "Littledike" or "Littledyke" would have been given to someone who lived by a small ditch or a dyke. The medieval dyke was quite a large construction, usually built for purposes of defence as well as drainage, although the latter would be necessary in the fen-lands of Lincolnshire. As a locational surname, Littledyke would derive from a now lost place named with the same elements. The marriage of Edward Littledyke and Jone Ford was recorded at Barrowby, Lincolnshire, on November 2nd 1720. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Lyteldyke (christening), which was dated March 16th 1565, Ewerby, Lincolnshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.