This interesting surname has three possible origins. Firstly, it may come from a nickname for a lively person, or a metonymic occupational name for a goatherd, deriving from the Middle English "kid(e)" meaning young goat (perhaps from the Old Norse "kith"). Secondly, it may be a metonymic occupational name for a seller of faggots, kindling, from the Middle English "kidde" meaning faggot. Thirdly, it can also be a Scottish name from a medieval given name, Kid, a variant of Kit, a pet form of the personal name "Christopher" meaning Bearer of Christ. The surname dates back to the late 12th Century (see below). Variations in the spelling of the surname include Keddie, Kiddie, Kiddye, Kiddy, Keddy, Keddey and Kedie. Church Records list Jone, daughter of Harry Kyddy, who was christened on February 8th 1563 at St. Michael Bassishaw, London. The christening of Lucy, daughter of Roger Kiddey took place on January 10th 1615 at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, and the marriage of Robert Kedie to Lilian Rallray on the 22nd June 1665 in Edinburgh. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Kide, which was dated 1181, in the "Pipe Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Henry 11, know as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.

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