Recorded in many spellings including Idden, Iddon, Iddens, Iddons, Joddins, Joddens, Iddiens and Idiens, this is a surname of English origins. It is believed to originate howver from a Norse-Viking personal name of pre 7th century origins 'Idonia!. This consisted of two fused elements, the first being 'Iofa' meaning to make or do, and the second 'unna', meaning love. It is doubtful if 'to make love' would have the modern connotation, or indeed was the actual translation, but without being present when the name was created it is impossible to be absolutely sure of a meaning. Most early names of this ancient period had two quite dissimilar elements, often with no obvious overall meaning at all, so this name is something of a puzzle. The early name development includes random recordings taken from surving rolls and registers such as those of John Idonee of the county of Norfolk in the year 1293, whilst Elizabeth Idon was recorded in the city of London in 1585, and later still Richard Idiens of Dudley, in Staffordshire, was a christening witness in 1802. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Ydeyn. This was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, during the reign of King Edward 1st of England 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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