Udey

This interesting and unusual name is a variant form of the popular medieval English male personal name "Hudde", which has a complex origin. In most cases the origin is from the personal name "hugh", or which "Hud(de)" is a diminutive, and which was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. "Hugh" derives from a short form of various Germanic compound names beginning with the element "hug", meaning "heart, mind, spirit". The second possible origin is from an Olde English pre 7th Century personal name, "Huda", as found in such placenames, "Huddington", in Worcestershire. Finally, "Hudde" may have been used as a short, pet form of "Richard", another Germanic compound name introduced by the Normans and meaning "powerful brave". The variants of the modern surname "Huddy", found as Udy and Udey, are frequently found in the West Country, more so than in London and the Home Counties: One Digory Udey married Loveday Coombe at Lostwithiel in Cornwall January 23rd 1785. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Udie, which was dated 1544, marriage to Alse Nanskevell, at St. Columb Major, Cornwall, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Bluff King Hal", 1509 - 1547. 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.