Show ContentsOddie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought the Oddie family name to the British Isles. Oddie comes from the popular Norman given name Odo.

Early Origins of the Oddie family

The surname Oddie was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Storkhouse, Gisburn, and Withernsea in that shire. They are conjecturally believed to be descended from Count Odo who was also ancestor of the Counts of Aumale and the Lords of Holderness.

Early History of the Oddie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oddie research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oddie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oddie Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Oddie, Oddey, Odey, Oddy, Hoddy, Hoddie, Odo and many more.

Early Notables of the Oddie family

More information is included under the topic Early Oddie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Oddie 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:

Oddie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • A. R. Oddie, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Zealandia" in 1881

Contemporary Notables of the name Oddie (post 1700) +

  • Bill Oddie, English comedic actor, and wildlife television producer
  • Mr. David Oddie M.B.E. (b. 1942), British Honorary Secretary and Treasurer for The Society of the Friends of St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to the community in Orkney 1
  • Judge Christopher Ripley Oddie,
  • Guy Barrie Oddie, Professor of Architecture, University of Edinburgh
  • Lily Oddie (b. 1937), former provincial politician in Ontario, Canada
  • Tasker Oddie (1870-1950), Governor of Nevada and United States Senator


  1. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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