Show ContentsAyd History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ayd is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from the son of Ede, as Edison, which was later shortened to Eadie. The surname Ayd originally derived from the Old English word Eade which referred to abundant riches.However, another reference claims that the name was derived from the Middle English name Edwy and the Old English word Eadwig which are composed of the elements ead meaning prosperity and wig which meant war. 1 2

Early Origins of the Ayd family

The surname Ayd was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the name is found as a surname only: Eddiva, Aediva pulchra. 3 Later Stephen Edy was recorded in the Gloucestershire in 1278. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 reveled more early spelling of the name: Edde (no personal name listed) in Norfolk; Edde filius Hugh in Huntingdonshire; William filius Ede in Suffolk; Robert filius Ede in Huntingdonshire; and William Ede in Norfolk. 5

"Eade is an ancient Suffolk name. In the form of Ede it occurred in this county, as well as in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward I., and in this form it was, at the same time, numerous in the neighbouring county of Huntingdonshire. Under "Sussex" reference will be found to this name in that county. Eades is a name now found in Bedfordshire, whilst Ede is found in Cornwall. The ancient name of Eade has long been in Sussex. In 1203 John Eade bought half a messuage for twenty shillings in the parish of Steyning." 6

Early History of the Ayd family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ayd research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1379, 1500, 1555, 1565, 1566, 1603, 1604, 1609, 1667, 1686 and 1803 are included under the topic Early Ayd History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ayd Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Ayd has undergone many spelling variations, including Eadie, Eades, Edey, Eadey, Eddy, Edeson, Edison and others.

Early Notables of the Ayd family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Eedes or Edes (1555-1604), Dean of Worcester, born probably in Bedfordshire in 1555 of an old family which had been long seated at Sewell in...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ayd Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Ayd family to Ireland

Some of the Ayd family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ayd family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Ayd were among those contributors: John Eddy who settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, in the year 1630. Samuel Eddy landed in Plymouth in the same year. In 1766; Mary Eddy had made Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina her home.



  1. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  2. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.


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