Contents [hide]

Kidd History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Kidd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Kidd. The Kidd family lived in Angus. "The name, however, is more probably a diminutive of Christopher." 1

Early Origins of the Kidd family

The surname Kidd was first found in Dundee and Arbroath where the name was an old Angus surname. "The name, however, is more probably a diminutive of Christopher. Robertus Kyd de Dunde is mentioned in 1357. Gilchrist Kide who held land near river Nethan, 1180-1203." 1

William Kidd, better known as Captain William Kidd or simply Captain Kidd (c.1654-1701) was the infamous Scottish pirate who was tried and executed. Born in Dundee, he lost his father Captain John Kyd to the sea and the family was supported by a local society. Many believe that he left buried treasure and this led to many novels including Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Early History of the Kidd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kidd research. Another 238 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1430, 1450, 1453, 1470, 1473, 1492, 1520, 1530, 1557, 1563, 1571, 1595, 1645, 1701, 1761, 1784, 1834 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kidd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kidd Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Kidd has been spelled Kidd, Kydd, Kyd, Kid and others.

Early Notables of the Kidd family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Benjamin Kidd, Scottish Author

Kidd World Ranking

In the United States, the name Kidd is the 954^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Kidd is ranked the 735^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,286 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Kidd is the 542^nd popular surname with an estimated 1,292 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Kidd as 749^th with 8,915 people. 5

Migration of the Kidd family to Ireland

Some of the Kidd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 206 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kidd migration to the United States +

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them:

Kidd Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Roger Kidd, aged 24, who landed in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "George" 6
Thomas Kidd, who landed in Maryland in 1642 6
Thomas Kidd, who settled in Virginia in 1648
Henry Kidd, who landed in Maryland in 1668 6

Kidd Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah Kidd, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1722
Sarah Kidd, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 6

Kidd Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Neha Kidd, aged 20, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 6
Archibald Kidd, aged 20, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 6
William K Kidd, aged 26, who arrived in New York, NY in 1822 6
Charles Kidd, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 6
Jonathan Kidd, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1824 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kidd Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Sydney George Kidd, (b. 1883), aged 22, Cornish stonemason, from Penzance, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 9th April 1905 en route to New York, USA 7

Kidd migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kidd Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alexander Kidd, who landed in Canada in 1815
Alexander Kidd/Kidds, aged 34, a cart wright, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
Christian Kidd/Kidds, aged 34, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
Alexander Kidd/Kidds, aged 10, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
Christian Kidd/Kidds, aged 9, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kidd migration to Australia +

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

Kidd Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Kidd, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for life for house breaking, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Thomas Kidd, a mason, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. James Kidd, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 9
Thomas Kidd, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Delhi" in 1839 10
Mr. George Kidd, English convict who was convicted in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kidd 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:

Kidd Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ann Kidd, aged 31, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Stately" in 1851
Miss Anne Kidd, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Stately" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 1st June 1851 12
Robert Kidd, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
Mr. James Kidd, (b. 1806), aged 54, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 13
Mr. James Kidd, (b. 1836), aged 24, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kidd (post 1700) +

Roy Lee Kidd (1931-2023), American collegiate football league player and coach
Roy Lee Kidd (1931-2023), American collegiate football league player and head coach at Eastern Kentucky University from 1964 to 2002, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2003
Don Kidd (1937-2020), American politician, Member of the New Mexico Senate (1993-2005)
William Matthew Kidd (1918-1998), American Democratic Party politician, Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Braxton County, 1951; Candidate for U.S. Representative from West Virginia 1st District, 1966; Chair of Braxton County Democratic Party, 1968-69;
William H. Kidd, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Philadelphia County, 1885-98
William E. Kidd, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 35th District, 1897-98
Stephen Kidd, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 2008
Robert Henry Kidd (1888-1982), American Democratic Party politician, Newspaper work; Candidate for U.S. Representative from West Virginia 3rd District, 1924; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Braxton County, 1941-42
Robert H. Kidd, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates 9th District; Elected 1982; Elected unopposed 1984
Robert Franklin Kidd (1853-1930), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Gilmer County, 1887-88, 1929-30; Died in office 1930; Member of West Virginia State Senate, 1899-1914, 1923-28 (4th District 1899-1902, 10th District 1903-14, 1923-28); Chair of Gilmer County Democratic Party, 1917;
... (Another 58 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kidd family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Timothy Linn Kidd (1957-1985), American Sergeant from North Little Rock, Arkansas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 14

HMS Dorsetshire

William Raymond Kidd (d. 1945), British Air Mechanician 1st Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 15

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Frank Kidd, English 2nd Class Cabin Bed Steward from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 16

USS Arizona

Mr. Isaac Campbell Kidd, American Rear Admiral working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 17

The Kidd Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Donec impleat orbem
Motto Translation: Until it fills its orb.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DELHI 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Delhi.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html