This interesting and unusual name has two possible sources, the first being that it is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from an Old English pre 7th Century personal name 'Teoda', which is of uncertain etymology. However, it may be a Norman French name beginning with the Germanic element 'theudo', meaning people. There is some controversy whether any of the pre-Conquest (1066) names with this element are ever Old English or whether they are Continental importations, in this case the name source is probably a follower of William the Conqueror, who settled in England. Among the early recordings in London is the christening of Alis Tedder on August 14th 1552 at St. Martin's, Ludgate, the marriage of John Tedder and Jone Fish on March 9th 1571 at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Tedde, which was dated 1327, Fillongley, Warwickshire, during the reign of King Edward 111, '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.

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