Show ContentsEddes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Eddes literally means "son of Addie" or "son of Addy" from the diminutive of Adam. 1 2 One source believes the name could have meant "the son of Ada or Adda (noble cheer)." 3

Early Origins of the Eddes family

The surname Eddes was first found in the Northern English and Scottish Borders. It is generally thought that the first record of the name was found on the English side in Yorkshire: John Addisone in 1308. Years later, Robert Addesone was also found in Yorkshire in 1498. 1

Across the border in Scotland, the name was fairly common "in the eastern counties from Linlithgow to Aberdeen." 4 In this case, Alicia relict of quondam Johannes filius Ede de Colly was granted four acres of land on the north side of the town of Colly in 1367. Three years later, William Adison was rector of Luss in 1370 and a few years after that, Gilbert filius Ade was a tenant of the Douglases in the barony of Kylboucho in 1376. 4

Early History of the Eddes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eddes research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1308, 1415, 1430, 1436, 1443, 1449, 1505, 1538, 1580, 1611, 1632, 1672, 1673, 1683, 1684, 1703, 1709 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Eddes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eddes Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Eddes occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Addison, Addeson, Addesoun, Adieson, Adison, Edison and many more.

Early Notables of the Eddes family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Addison (fl. 1538), English divine, a native of the diocese of York, who was admitted to a fellowship at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, in 1505. 5Joseph Addison (1672-1719), was an English essayist, poet, and statesman, son of Lancelot Addison...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eddes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Eddes family to Ireland

Some of the Eddes 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.


New Zealand Eddes 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:

Eddes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Annie C. Eddes, aged 24, a housemaid, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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