Recorded as Bedder and Bidder, this is an English surname. It has at least two probable origins, and if so can be either be occupational or from a personal name. Firstly if occupational it derives from the pre 7th century Olde German word 'bedda' meaning a barber, and cognate with the Anglo-French 'barbier'. This had the meaning of 'one who cut'. Upto at least the end of the medieval period in the 16th century 'barbers' were required to be multi-talented, combining the professional functions of surgeons, blood letters, and dentists, so a visit to one of these people had a lot more than the usual modern implications. The second possible origin is from the Olde English personal name Beda or Bede. This was a name which through the writings of the first English historian the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, has achieved international status. It is a romantic name which probably meant "bud" as in rose bud, and hence was a baptismal name of endearment. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Beda. This was was dated 1275, in the Hundred Rolls of the county of Warwickshire, during the reign of King Edward Ist and known as the Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the 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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