Kidhan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Kidhan is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the Dutch personal name Kygeir which meant people's spear. 1 The surname Kidhan was adopted in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.

Early Origins of the Kidhan family

The surname Kidhan was first found in Sussex where another reference claims that name is an occupational name for "one who travels with goods for sale. Most if not all the Kidders of England spring from Maresfield, co. Sussex, where they may be traced back as far as the reign of Edward II." 2

Other early rolls include: Ailric (le) Chidere in the Pipe Rolls for Warwickshire in 1190; Roger Kidere in the Feet of Fines for Lancashire in 1233; Thomas le Kidere in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301; and Richard le Kedere in Devon in 1310. 1

In Norfolk, early records there show Richard Kideman held lands in 1221 and later Alan Kydeman was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275. 3

Early History of the Kidhan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kidhan research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1665, 1691, 1703 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Kidhan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kidhan Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Kidhan has been recorded under many different variations, including Kidder, Kidere, Kidman and others.

Early Notables of the Kidhan family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Richard Kidder (1633-1703), an English Anglican churchman killed in the Great Storm of 1703, Bishop of Bath and Wells (from 1691 to his death.) He was born at East Grinstead in Sussex in 1633. His father belonged to the class of yeomen or...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kidhan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kidhan family to Ireland

Some of the Kidhan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kidhan family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Kidhan or a variant listed above: John Kidder, who settled in Boston in 1633; James Kidder settled in Cambridge in 1633; Benjamin Kidder settled in Baltimore in 1775; along with William.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)