Edison

This interesting surname of English origin is a patronymic of the middle English given name Edwy, Old English pre 7th Century Eadwig, composed of the elements "ead" meaning "prosperity" or "fortune" plus "wig" "war". The surname dates back to the mid 13th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Adam Eadwy (1275), "The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk". Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Eddis, Edds, Edes, Edis, Edison, Edesin etc.. One Richard Eyddes married Johanna Edley in London in 1533, and Joan Eddie married William Woode on January 20th 1600 at St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London. Herbert Edes was christened in 1606 at University College, Oxford, and Thomas, son of Thomas and Frances Eddie, was christened on April 16th 1653 at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Edwy, which was dated 1254, in "Archaeological Cantiana", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.