This is an English locational surname. It originates from a place called Padfield near the town of Glossop in the county of Derbyshire. First recorded as "Padefeld" in the Domesday Book of 1086 and as "Paddefeld" in the Pipe Rolls of that county in 1185, the first element may be either the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Padda" or the Olde English word "pade", meaning a toad, plus "feld", open country, or land free from wood; hence, "Padda's feld", or "felds frequented by toads". The surname was first recorded at the beginning of the 17th Century (see below). On May 5th 1608, Edward Padfield, was christened at Norton, Derbyshire, and on December 15th 1808, Mary, the daughter of James and Sarah Padfield was christened at St. Andrew's church, Holborn, London, whilst Sydney Padfield and Mary Radmore were married at Eston, Yorkshire, on November 4th 1867. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Padfield. This was dated November 29th 1603, when he was christened at Dronfield, in Derbyshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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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