Recorded in several spelling forms including Stedde, Stitt, Stodd, Studd, Studde, Stode, Stood, Studder, and Studds, this unusual surname is English, and Scottish. It can be either or both locational and occupational, and derives from the Olde English pre 7th century word 'sted'. As such it describes somebody who owned, worked, or lived at a stud farm. Residential surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. In Scotland and to some extent Northern Ireland, the usual spelling is in the dialectal form of Stitt, and an example is the christening of Margaret, the daughter of William and Hare Stitt, on April 19th 1719 at New Cumnock, Ayr. Other early examples of the surname recording include: Edward Stood, at Christ Church, Blackheath, London, on July 21st 1578, Erasmus Studd at the famous church of St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on November 8th 1640, and Edward Studds at St James church, Garlickhithe, also London, on February 7th 1773. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alnod Stud, which was dated 1066, in the Domesday Book, during the reign of King William 1st of England, and known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. Throughout the centuries surnames in every country have continued to "develop", often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.