This is a variant spelling of the medieval English "Madison" in which the element "Maddi" is a nickname form of the Olde French personal names Maud or Madeline. It can also be a derivation of the popular patronymic "Mathieson" - The son of Matthew, as found in the recordings, Thomas Madyson, in the Friary Rolls of Yorkshire for 1425 A.D. The name development as "Midson" includes Eliza Midson, who was christened on August 9th, 1637 at the Church of St. Giles, Cripplegate, whilst the variant spelling Medson is recorded on March 11th, 1754, when John Medeson was christened at the church of St. Ann's, Soho, London, in the reign of King George II (1727-1760). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Phillipe Midsonn, which was dated February 9th 1607, married Elizabeth Burton at St. Margarets, Westminster, during the reign of King James I, of England and VI of Scotland, 1603 - 1625. 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.