Sodee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Sodee

What does the name Sodee mean?

The ancestors of the bearers of the Sodee family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in an area that was referred to as the south down. The surname may also refer to the valley where the sows were kept. In either occasion the surname denotes a place-name in the county of Devon. 1

Early Origins of the Sodee family

The surname Sodee was first found in Devon at Sowton, a parish, in the union of St. Thomas, partly in the hundred of East Budleigh, but chiefly in that of Wonford. 2

The earliest record of the parish was in 1420, when it was recorded as Southton. Literally the place name means "south farmstead or village." Interestingly the place name was originally known as Clis 3 at the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, after the River Clyst. However, there is no known record as to why the name change took place. 4

Another source claims the name originated in Yorkshire where Alan Soldenc, Soldench was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1166 and 1175. Later, Roger le Soudan was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Yorkshire in 1208 and later again, Robert le Sowden was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire in 1279. 5

Early History of the Sodee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sodee research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sodee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sodee Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Sodee include Sowdon, Sowden, Sowton, Sowten and others.

Early Notables of the Sodee family

More information is included under the topic Early Sodee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sodee family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Sodee or a variant listed above: John, Michael, and Benjamin Sowden who settled in Maryland in 1774; William Sowden arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1860; Mary Sowton settled in Maryland in 1737..

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)