The ancient village(s) of East and North Tuddenham in Norfolk and Tuddenham St. Martin in Suffolk are the definite origins of this locational surname. The villages are recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Tudenham", and as "Tuddenham" in 1199, and it must be almost a record to retain virtually the original spelling, both in village and surname, over nearly one thousand years. The village name translates as "Tudda's homeplace", with "Tudda" being a popular Olde English (pre 9th Century) personal name, found from Kent (Tudeley) to Durham (Tudhoe) as a placename element. Surnames were usually derived from former residence at a village, however, there is a much smaller group who derived their name from ownership of the village, and Tuddenham would seem to be in this category. An early Coat of Arms was granted to Tud(d)enham of Norfolk, this being the famous lozengy of silver and red, portrayed in most heraldic displays. Examples of the name recording include: Agnes Tuddenham, who married William Rose at Holme Hale, Norfolk, on October 10th 1585, and Thomas Tuddenham, who was christened at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London, on June 15th 1617. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Tudeham, which was dated 1191, in the "Pipe Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. 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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