Pittendreigh

This rare and ancient surname is of Scottish origin, and is locational from any of the various places apparently named with the British (pre-Roman) phrase "pet an drych", meaning , croft of the view. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. Early recordings of the surname include: John Pendreych at Maynes in 1547; John Pettindreich at Banff in 1604 and Alexander Pendriche at Aberdeen in 1621. The modern surname can also be found as Pendrigh, Pendrich, Pittendreigh and Pettendrich and is particularly well recorded in Midlothian. One James Pendroch was a merchant in Edinburgh in 1660. Recorded in the Scottish Church Registers are the marriage of Gilbert Pendreigh and Jonet Misbet on February 7th 1650 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, and the christening of James, son of George Pendreigh and Margaret Hunter on August 25th 1825 at Borthwick, Midlothian. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Pendreicht, which was dated 1544, in the "Council Register of the burgh of Aberdeen", during the reign of Queen Mary of Scotland, 1542 - 1567. 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.