Kidds History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Kidds

What does the name Kidds mean?

The Strathclyde-Briton people of ancient Scotland were the first to use the name Kidds. The Kidds family lived in Angus. "The name, however, is more probably a diminutive of Christopher." 1

Early Origins of the Kidds family

The surname Kidds was first found in Dundee and Arbroath where the name was an old Angus surname. "The name, however, is more probably a diminutive of Christopher. Robertus Kyd de Dunde is mentioned in 1357. Gilchrist Kide who held land near river Nethan, 1180-1203." 1

William Kidd, better known as Captain William Kidd or simply Captain Kidd (c.1654-1701) was the infamous Scottish pirate who was tried and executed. Born in Dundee, he lost his father Captain John Kyd to the sea and the family was supported by a local society. Many believe that he left buried treasure and this led to many novels including Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.

Early History of the Kidds family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kidds research. Another 238 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1430, 1450, 1453, 1470, 1473, 1492, 1520, 1530, 1557, 1563, 1571, 1595, 1645, 1701, 1761, 1784, 1834 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kidds History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kidds Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Kidds has been spelled Kidd, Kydd, Kyd, Kid and others.

Early Notables of the Kidds family

Benjamin Kidd, Scottish Author; William Kyd (fl. 1430-1453), a 15th century English pirate active in Southwest England from the 1430s until the 1450s; Thomas Kyd (1557-1595), Scottish dramatist; and William...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kidds Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kidds family to Ireland

Some of the Kidds family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 206 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kidds migration to Australia +

Kidds Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Kidds, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2

The Kidds Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Donec impleat orbem
Motto Translation: Until it fills its orb.

Sources +

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)
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion