Beedham

The Domesday Book of 1086 records the village of Beidun in Westmoreland, now spelt as "Beetham" and translating as "the hamlet at the flat area". It is probable that this is the place of origin of the Beedham surname, or if not some now "lost" place of the same meaning. The origin is Norse-Viking pre 8th Century "Biddr" which means literally "the table", hence "the flat area". The surname development includes Anne Beedome, recorded on October 20th 1586 at St. Giles Church Cripplegate, whilst Bridgett Beedham married one Henry Zoanne on February 26th 1616, at St. Katherines by the Tower, whilst on July 2nd 1637, Augustine Beedham married Eleanor Wright at Newark on Trent. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Beadam, which was dated February 4th 1558, married Sibill Hawkins at St. Katherines by the Wardrobe, London, during the reign of Queen Mary I, "Mary Queen of Scots", 1554 - 1558. 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.