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Show ContentsGiddings History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Celtic name of Giddings was derived from the rugged landscape of Wales. This old, proud name is from the Welsh personal name Gethin. According to some experts, this forename is derived from the word "cethin," which means "dusky" or "dark."

Early Origins of the Giddings family

The surname Giddings was first found in Cheshire, where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor near Malpas. The main stem of the family is said to be descended from David Goch, a Welsh chieftain, Lord of Penmachno of Fedwdeg. One of the oldest records of the name was Rhys Gethin (died 1405), Welsh standard bearer and a leading general in the revolt of Owain Glyndwr in which he led an army which captured several castles in South Wales; and later Ieuan Gethin ap Ieuan ap Lleision (fl. c. 1450) was a Welsh language poet and gentleman from Baglan, Glamorgan. A large number of his own poems remain in existence today.

Early History of the Giddings family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Giddings research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1402, 1405, 1585, 1615, 1652, 1674, 1676, 1685, 1697, 1698, 1709, 1725, 1765 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Giddings History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Giddings Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Giddings have included Gethin, Gethyn, Gethyns, Gethyng, Gethings, Gething, Gethinge, Getting, Gettings, Gittings, Gittens, Gittins, Gidding, Giddings, Gettins, Giddens, Giddins, Gidden, Giddens, Gettens, Gitting and many more.

Early Notables of the Giddings family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Rhys Gethin (died 1405), key figure in the revolt of Owain Glyndwr, standard bearer and a leading general, took part in the crucial Welsh victory at the Battle of Bryn Glas (1402), led an army which captured several castles in South Wales, killed at either the Battle of Pwll Melyn or the Battle of Grosmont in 1405.Lady Grace Gethin (1676-1697), was...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Giddings Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Giddings Ranking

In the United States, the name Giddings is the 7,211st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Giddings family to Ireland

Some of the Giddings family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Australia Giddings migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Giddings Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Giddings, (Gray), (b. 1790), aged 32, English convict who was convicted in Westminster, London, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1850 2
  • William Giddings, English convict from Northampton, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • Jacob Giddings, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 4
  • Henrietta Giddings, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John" in 1840 4
  • Charles Giddings, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1850 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Giddings migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Giddings Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Richard Giddings, aged 38, a baker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Jane Giddings, aged 37, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Richard Giddings, aged 15, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • William Giddings, aged 25, a painter, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875
  • Fanny Giddings, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dallam Tower" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Giddings (post 1700) +

  • Paula Giddings (b. 1947), American historian and writer
  • David Giddings (1806-1900), American surveyor, civil engineer, businessman, farmer in Wisconsin
  • Dewitt Clinton Giddings (1827-1903), American politician from Texas who served three non-consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives
  • Franklin Henry Giddings (1855-1931), American sociologist and economist, President of the American Sociological Association (1910-1911)
  • Joshua Reed Giddings (1795-1864), American statesman and a prominent opponent of slavery, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (1838-1843)
  • Napoleon Bonaparte Giddings (1816-1897), United States Senator from the Nebraska Territory
  • Ammi Giddings (1822-1882), American lawyer and politician from Connecticut
  • Mike Giddings (b. 1933), former American football player and coach
  • Marsh Giddings (1816-1875), American politician from Michigan
  • Ammi Giddings, American politician, Member of Connecticut State Senate 16th District, 1857, 1864 6
  • ... (Another 33 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Douglas Giddings (d. 1945), British Telegraphist aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 7
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  3. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN from London 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840John.htm
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NORTHUMBERLAND 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Northumberland.gif
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
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