This is predominantly an English topographic name for 'one who lives in or by a field' from the Old English pre 7th century 'feld' which meant specifically land cleared of forest but as yet uncultivated. There are a great many national and regional variations of the name, mainly caused by dialectual differences, such as Velden, found in Southern England. As a locational name meaning 'of Fielden' it is a well-known Lancashire surname. Arms were granted to John Fildyng of Newnham in 1434 : 'bore, argent, on a fess azure three fusils or'. The Feldons have the same arms, the crest being 'a wild man proper'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de la Felden which was dated 1286 Calendar of Investigations after Death, Worcestershire during the reign of King Edward 1 The Hammer of the Scots 1272-1307 Worcestershire 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.