This interesting and unusual name is a dialectal variant of "Baddeley", itself of English locational origin from a place called "Baddeley" in Staffordshire, recorded "Baddilige" in 1227, in the Charter Rolls and "Badeleye" in 1270, in the Assize Rolls of the county. The place name itself derives from the "Old English "Baddingleah", meaning "Badda's wood or clearing" from the Old English personal name "Badda", perhaps from "beadu", battle plus the second element "-ing-", "the people of" and "leah", meaning clearing in a wood. The surname first appears in records in the late 13th Century, (see below). One Geoffrey de Badele was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk in 1273. Ellen, daughter of William Baddeley was christened at Midhurst, Sussex on October 4th 1567. Catherine, daughter of Robert Baddiley was christened at St. John, Hackney, London on December 19th 1787. Robert Baddeley (1733-1794), was a comedien who joined the Dury Lane company in 1763, winning a reputation as an exponent of foreign footmen. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Badeleye, which was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Essex, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.

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