Show ContentsTidwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tidwell family

The surname Tidwell was first found in Derbyshire at Tideswell, a village and civil parish in the Peak District, home to more than 1700 people as of 1991. The village dates back to the Domesday Book 1086 1 where it was listed as Tidesuuelle, and literally meant "spring or stream of a man called Tidi" from the Old English personal name + "wella." 2 Another source translates the place name as "Tidi's stream." 3

"The first account of this place is in Domesday Book, in which it is described under the name Tiddeswall as a royal demesne having a chapel, which latter was given by King John to the canons of Lichfield. " 4 Interestingly, locals pronounce the name Tidza. 5

Turning the clock back, we found one of the first listing of the name was Warin de Tideswell who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Northumberland in 1206. 5 Henry de Tideswell was listed in Derbyshire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 revealed Ricardus de Tyddeswelle. 6 Henry de Tiddeswelle was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1336. 5

Early History of the Tidwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tidwell research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1206, 1336, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1538, 1600, 1762 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Tidwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tidwell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tidwell, Todwell, Tidewell, Titewell, Tidwall, Titwall, Tidewall, Totwell, Todwall, Tadwell, Tiddswell, Tideswell, Tidswell and many more.

Early Notables of the Tidwell family

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

Tidwell Ranking

In the United States, the name Tidwell is the 1,360th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 7


Tidwell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tidwell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Luca Tidwell, aged 19, who arrived in America from Camborne, in 1899
Tidwell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ray Tidwell, aged 21, who arrived at Barraquia, Tennessee in 1914
  • Carrol Tidwell, aged 19, who arrived at New York, in 1919
  • Virginia Tidwell, aged 4, who arrived at New York City, NY, in 1922
  • Kathleen Tidwell, aged 24, who arrived at New York City, NY, in 1922
  • Josiah Blake Tidwell, aged 53, who arrived at Waco, Texas, in 1923

Tidwell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Tidwell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Tidwell, Jr., English convict who was convicted in South Holland (Holland), Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • Mr. John Tidwell, British Convict who was convicted in Holland, Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Tidwell (post 1700) +

  • Moody R. Tidwell III (b. 1939), American judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims from 1983 to 1998
  • Larry Tidwell (b. 1953), American head coach of the UTRGV Vaqueros women's basketball team
  • John C. Tidwell (b. 1941), American politician, Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1997-)
  • Charles "Charlie" Tidwell (1937-1969), American track athlete
  • William Dale "Bill" Tidwell (b. 1932), American university sports administrator and former college track and field and cross country coach, inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame (1963)
  • George Ernest Tidwell (1931-2011), American federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • Charles "Charlie" Tidwell (1921-1990), American NASCAR race car driver
  • Monica Tidwell (b. 1954), American model
  • John W. Tidwell, retired American basketball player
  • Cortney Tidwell (b. 1972), American singer-songwriter
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Indianapolis
  • James Freddie Tidwell, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 10


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  10. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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