This is one of the several patronymic variant surnames which derives from the most famous cleric in English history, the vernerabel bede, the Bishop of Wearmouth in Northumberland and Author of the original Anglo - Saxon Chronicles. The name is a descriptive personal name for one who practised religion, it literally means 'one who prays', and in the variant spellings as for instance Beddas or Beddis implies 'the son of Bede'. The name recordings include Lawrence Beddess of Stepney in 1767, whilst William Biddiss was a witness at the church of St. George The Martyr, Southwark on October 11th 1812. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of George Beddes, which was dated 1569, Married Alice Broke at St. Thomas The Apostle, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. 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.