Lodewick

This very uncommon and intriguing name is one of the Anglicized forms of the surname derived from the Old Frankish male personal name "Hludwig, Hlodwig", which is composed of the Germanic elements "hlod", fame, and "wig", war. This was the name of the founder of the Frankish dynasty, recorded in Latin chronicles as "Ludovicus" and "chlodovechus". The latter form generated the Old French names "Clovis, Clouis and Louis", and the former became the German "Ludwig". The name was popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, being introduced into England by the Normans and becoming the familiar surname and given name "Lewis". The German forms, Ludwig, was also adopted in the Netherlands, as "Lodewijk", and it is this form, introduced into England by Flemish weavers during the 15th and 16th Centuries and Flemish, Huguenot refugees in the 17th Century, that was Anglicized as Lodwick, Lodevick, Lodewick and Loadwick. One Francis Lodewcik was christened in London on August 8th 1619, and the marriage of John Loaderwick and Jane Bellamy was recorded at St. Paul's, Bedford, on April 1st 1839. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Willem Lodewijck, which was dated 1504, Heukelum, South Holland, during the reign of King Philip of Austria, Governor of Holland, 1495 - 1506. 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.