Not as may be thought "a keeper of small birds". This name refers to the collecting of Tithes, i.e. Taxes on behalf of the Church". A 'Tithing' was an administrative area, originally of ten householders, the Tithe-man being in effect the chief of this division. The early records show entries such as-Tethingman Le Auste in 1273, Gloucester, "Le Auste" being presumably "The Austrian" who was the Titheman and in the same period "Tydyman le Swarte", meaning "The one with swarthy complexion"-neither being true surnames. The modern spellings are Tiddleman, Tiddiman, Tidman, Titman and Tideman. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Tethingman. which was dated 1328, The Pipe Roll of Somerset. during the reign of King Edward III, 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.