Recorded in several forms including Edmead, Eadmead, Edmed, Edmett, Edmott, Edmeades, Edemeads, Eadmeades, and Edmeads, this is a rare surname of truly ancient pre 7th century Olde English origins. It derives from the baptismal name "Eadmede" meaning "humble", and was one of a group of similar names of endearment which included "Loef", the modern surname Love, and "Deor", the modern Dear. Many such names were "lost" after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when it became politically correct to adopt French names such as William or Henry. This was especially so during the period for some three hundred year upto 1300, when French was the official language of England. However the old names never completely died out, and in the "Saxon" revival of the late medieval period, they again became popular. Early examples of the surname recordings include Roger Edemede of Kent in 1334, John Edmed of Warwickshire in 1485, and William Edmete and Robert Edmets, both of Sussex in 1577. The first known recording of the surname in any spelling anywhere in the world is believed to be that of Gervase Edmede, in the pipe rolls of the county of Kent, for the year 1330. This was during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the English navy", 1327 - 1377.

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