History plays tricks with names, and this is a good example. The origin of this name is Olde English pre 7th century locational 'sud-wic' and the translation is 'one who resides at the south farm'. However, the particularly interesting factor is that the modern accepted spelling which is now quite common, is 'Southwick' found in Durham, Gloucester, Hampshire etc., but this is wrong, the 'correct' spelling should be Suddick or Suddock. The name development has been, Sudwic to Suthewyk (1332 Sussex) to Southwyke (1363 Gloucester). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Sudwic, which was dated 1202, in the Northumberland Assizes, during the reign of King John, known as Lackland, 1199-1216. 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.

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