This interesting surname with variant spellings Chedsey, Chedzoy, Chedgey, Chidgey, Cheddgey, Chedgie, etc., is a locational name from Chedzoy in Somerset, composed of the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Cedd" plus "eg" "island", hence "Cedd's island". The placename is recorded as Chedesie in the Cartularium Saxonicum of 729. The surname dates back to the early 14th Century, (see below). Church recordings include one Margaret Chedgie who married William Marchant on May 9th 1607 in Bath Weston, Somerset, Susanna, daughter of Phillip and Alice Chidgey, was christened on September 2nd 1655, at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London, and John Chedgey was christened on December 26th 1657 also at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate. John Chedgey married Margery White on June 13th 1720 in Samford Brett, Somerset, and Hannah Chedggey married William Cope on August 23rd 1756, at St. James Bartholomew, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Chedesy, which was dated 1328, Kirby's Quest for Somerset, during the reign of King Edward 111, the "Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.