This name, with variant spelling Madison, is a metronymic from the Medieval female given name Madde, itself a variant form of Maud. Maud and Mahalt were the vernacular forms of the Norman personal name Matilda, composed of the Germanic elements "maht", might or strength, plus "hild", a battle. William the Conqueror's wife bore the name Matilda. Later their granddaughter, another Matilda, sometimes known as Maud, fought to oust her cousin Stephen from the English throne. In 1430 one, William Maddison was recorded in "The Chartulary of Durham Priory" and in 1558 Anne Maddesonne, an infant, was christened in St. Peter's Church, Cornhill, London.Sir Ralph Maddison (circa 1571 - 1655), economic writer was a member of the royal commission on the woollen trade (1622) and holder of an office in the mint during the Commonwealth. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Madyson, which was dated 1425 - "The Register of the Freenman of York City", during the reign of King Henry VI, "The Founder of Eton", 1422 - 1461. 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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