This interesting and unusual name is a patronymic name from the Old English pre seventh Century word "gloed", shining, joyful (Medieval English "glad", glad) found in various Old English personal names like "Glaeding", plus the second element "-ing", denoting "people of", hence the name probably means "the people of the merry, joyful one". The personal name was recorded as "Gledingus" in the curia Rolls in 1196. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include: Gladden, Glidden, Gledden and Gladding. Ellinor, daughter of John Gladyn was christened at St. Martin Lndgate, London, on November 16th 1606, while at the same church, Richard, son of John Gladen was christened on February 21st 1607, On February 2nd 1611, Robert Gladding married Margery Chapman at St. Botolph Bishopgate, London. Ann, daughter of Jas. Gladdin was christened at Mucklestone, in Staffordshire on March 20th 1703, while Mary, daughter of Thomas and Martha Gladdings was christened on March 18th, 1749, at St. Mary Stafford in Staffordshire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Gladdinge, married Mary Blitton, which was dated April 30th 1603, at St. Lawrence Jewry and St. Mary Magdalene, Milk Street, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.