| ![Show Contents]() Kidmen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Kidmen surname comes from the Middle English word "kid(e)," which referred to a young goat. The name may have originally been a nickname for someone energetically kid-like, or it may have occupational for a herder of goats. Early Origins of the Kidmen familyThe surname Kidmen was first found in Suffolk and Northamptonshire, where a William, Ralp Kide was on record in 12th century Pipe Rolls for those counties. An Alan Kydeman was also on record in Norfolk, in the 1275 Rotuli Hundredorum. The Hundredorum Rolls also lists Reginald Kidd. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had three entries: Ricardus Kyd; Thomas Kydde; and Willelmus Kydde. 1 The Pipe Rolls listed William Kide in Suffolk in 1181 and Ralph Kide in Northumberland in 1198. 2 Early History of the Kidmen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kidmen research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1430, 1450, 1453, 1601, 1602, 1735, 1775, 1786, 1789, 1851 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kidmen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kidmen Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Kidd, Kydd, Kidman, Kideman, Kidde, Kydeman and others. Early Notables of the Kidmen familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was William Kyd (fl. 1430-1453), a 15th-century English pirate active in South West England from the 1430s until the 1450s. In November 1453, in perhaps the biggest prize of his career, he captured The Marie of St. Andrews. He and others were virtually immune from the law for over two decades by the protection of corrupt custom officials.John Kidd (1775-1851), physician, born in London 10 Sept...
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kidmen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Kidmen family to Ireland
Some of the Kidmen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 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 Kidmen familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Kidmen or a variant listed above were: Roger Kidd, who arrived in Virginia in 1623; Thomas Kidd, who came to Maryland in 1642; John Kidd, who was banished to the plantations of America in 1684.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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England
Ireland
