Feedham

When the English dialect 'ammends' what it perceives to be 'foreign' words or names, it usually does so with some gusto - this surname is an excellent example of the art! Recorded as Fidgeon, Fidian, Fidgin, Feedam, Feedham, Phidgin, etc., the origin of this name is in fact the Norman 'Fitz John' meaning 'The son of John', the name being originally recorded in the South East of England, where it had a measure of popularity. 'Fitz' derives from the Old French 'Fis' and whilst used to distinguish Father from Son, also had an aristocratic flavour, a number of noble surnames developing in consequence. These include FitzRoy, FitzAllan, FitzWilliam etc. Fidgeon, as an example is a development from Peter Fitz John who was recorded in the Essex Rolls of 1403 and from whom Fidgeons Croft, High Easter, Essex, is named. The origin is however much older, the ancient Feudal Arms list shows that the first name holder (see below) bore arms with the blazon, quarterly, gold and red, a border vair in 1295, and at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. Examples of the surname include Sir Mathew Fitz John of Stokeham who sealed the barons letter to the Pope in 1301, and Sir Randall Fitz John in 1377. Early church recordings include Edeth Fidgin of Tottenham in 1601, John Feedome of Terling, Essex, on May 18th 1636, and Henry Fidgeon, who married An Field at St Brides, Fleet Street, London, on August 12th 1716. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Le Fitz John, which was dated Circa 1216, recorded in the Glover Rolls of Heraldry, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as 'The Frenchman', 1216 - 1272. 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.