Recorded in many spellings including Pattle, Pedle, Peddle, Peedel, Petel, Piddle, Pittle, Pottell, Pottle, Puddle, and possibly others, this is an ancient English surname. However spelt they are all derivatives of the pre 7th century Old English personal name Pott or Podd. This was partially a habitational name for one who lived by an area of pits and hollows, or was possible a nickname for a rounded person. The surname is medieval, and is either a diminutive or a patronymic meaning "Little Pod" or possibly "son of Pod", the el or le being fused form of the old English word lytel. The surname is also recorded in Europe in various similar spellings and with the same meaning. Early recordings included Jonathon Pedle at St Jamed Clerkenwell in the city of London in 1555, Mary Peddell at St. Mary Whitechapel in 1715, whilst John Pedel married Emily HIll at St. Pancras old Church, London on December 22nd 1856. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Potel. This was dated 1243, in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Somerset, during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, 1216 - 1272. 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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