This surname is a variant of Wilden, which itself is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from either a place so called in Bedfordshire, which was recorded as "Wildene" in the Domesday Book of 1086; or a place in Worcestershire which appeared as "Wineladuna, Winelduna" in 1163, in the "Placenames of Worcestershire". The former placename is composed of the Olde English pre 7th Century words "wilg", willow, and "denu", a valley; while the latter place in Worcestershire is derived from the Olde English personal name "Winela", plus the Olde English "dun", a hill or mountain. During the Middle Ages, when migration for the purpose of job-seeking was becoming common, people often used their former village name as a means of identification, resulting in a wide dispersal of the name in a number of variant spellings. Recordings from London Church Registers include: Elyn Wylden, who married Jene Hayberm at the Church of St. Dionis, Backchurch, London, on June 26th 1552, whilst Catherine, daughter of Robert and Catherine Wildin, was christened on August 24th 1735 at the Church of St. Andrew's, Holborn, in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Isbella Wyldon, which was dated April 6th 1551, christened at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, during the reign of King Edward V1, known as "The Boy King", 1547 - 1553. 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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