The name Widdow was originally a baptismal name as in "the son of Wydo" which is English for Guido or Guy
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) or it was an Old English name derived from "widuwe, widewe (widow)"
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)Early Origins of the Widdow family
The surname Widdow was first found in
Norfolk where William
filius Wydo was listed there in the
Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. The same roll lists Reginald filius Wydonis in Hunts county. Other early variants of the name include Thomas Wydowe who was listed during the reign of Richard II (1367-1400) and much later Annabella Wydow was listed in the
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. This latter listing is quite unique as at this time female entries were very rare.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Widdow family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Widdow research.
Another 223 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1297, 1576, 1619, 1732, 1898 and 1990 are included under the topic Early Widdow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Widdow Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Widdow, Wyddow, Wyddowson, Widdowson, Widdas, Widders, Widdis, Widwise, Widdars, Widow, Widows, Widdos, Widdoes and many more.
Early Notables of the Widdow family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Widdow Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Widdow family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Julia Widdows, aged 24, who arrived at
Ellis Island in 1894; Arthur Charles Widdows, aged 55, who arrived at
Ellis Island in 1909; and Susan Widdows, aged 27, who arrived at
Ellis Island from Oxford in 1894..