Normally found as Iddens or Iddons, this interesting surname has a wide range of alternative spellings including Joddins, Joddens, Iddiens and Idiens, these variants being found from circa 1720 onwards but is believed to be a derivative of the Norse-Viking 'Idunn' - a personal name of the pre 7th century which is a development of 'Iofa' meaning 'to do' and 'unna' to love. The name development includes, Richard Idiens of Dudley, being recorded as the father of Abraham Idiens (infant) in 1802. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Ydeyn, which was dated 1327, in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridge, during the reign of King Edward lll, known as 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.