This interesting surname is of Gaelic and Olde English origins, and is habitational. It describes a former resident of a now "lost" place called Tudhope, which translates as "the small enclosed valley (hop) of Tudda's tribe". The recordings suggest that "Tudhop(e)" was near Jedburgh in Roxburgh and this is probable as all early registrations are from the border region of South Scotland. The name has been found under a wide variety of spellings as shown below. This is quite normal, because when an original placename, for whatever reason, disappears off the map, the "link" is then lost. These early developments include Alexander Tutope of Crocefuird in 1622, William Tuttup of Nether Affleck in 1665, whilst one James Towdop (as spelt) was ordered before the Privy Council of Scotland in 1627 as a masterless person suitable for war duties. In 1795 Alexander Tudhope married Isabel Turner at Melrose, on August 8th, and they had nine children between September 25th 1796 (Joanna) and March 1st 1818 (Euphemia). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Tudhope, which was dated 1703, the Burgess of Jedburgh, Peebles, during the reign of Queen Anne, known as "The Last Stuart Monarch", 1702 - 1714. 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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