GIDDINGS
The surname Giddings is of English origin and is derived from the medieval given name Gidding, which itself was a diminutive form of the name Gilbert. The name Gilbert comes from the Old Germanic elements gisil, meaning “pledge” or “hostage,” and berht, meaning “bright” or “famous.” Consequently, the surname Giddings can be interpreted to signify “son of Gilbert” or “descendant of Gilbert,” indicating a familial connection to an earlier bearer of that personal name.
Historical records also point to a locational origin for the name. It is associated with the villages of Gedding near Huntingdon and Gidding near Stowmarket in Suffolk. These place‑names are of Anglo‑Saxon origin, pre‑7th century, and were personal in nature, meaning “Gedd’s family place.” The element Gedd is thought to be a development of the Old English word god, originally meaning “good.” The earliest recorded instance of the family name appears as Nicholas de Gedding in the Pipe Rolls of Essex, dated 1272 and held during the reign of King Edward I.
The spelling of the surname has evolved over the centuries. In the early modern period the spelling Giddings first appears in 1702 in the marriage licence records of St. Dionis Backchurch, London. In contemporary usage, six principal variants are recognised: Gidden, Giddens, Giddings, Gittens, Gittins and Gittings. Additional forms such as Gidding and Giding have also appeared in historical documents.
In terms of etymology, the name has been described as a patronymic or occupational surname. The Old English elements gydd (meaning “god” or “divine”) and ing (meaning “son of”) suggest that the original form, likely written Gedding, would have been pronounced GED-ing and referred to “the son of a divine or godly figure.” The earliest personal record of this type is that of John Geddinges in 12th‑century Norfolk.
In the United Kingdom the surname remains relatively common, with bearers found throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Canada and Australia. It has also spread extensively to North America. In the United States the name is most frequent in the Southwest and Midwest, particularly Texas and Michigan, while in Canada it is principally situated in Ontario, with smaller pockets in British Columbia and Quebec. These distributions demonstrate the historical migration of families bearing the name from its English origins to the New World.
Members of the Giddings family have, according to historical accounts, been noted for their bravery, work ethic and loyalty. During the Middle Ages, some individuals served as courtiers or officers in the royal court, and a number were knighted. The family crest, depicting a Warwick horse rampant gold, is still used by some descendants. It is said that the emblem commemorates a knight of the family who rode into battle upon such a horse, underscoring the martial tradition associated with the name.
Typical given names associated with the Giddings surname
Male
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Ann
- Emma
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Laura
- Linda
- Margaret
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Giddings in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 3,011 people named Giddings in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,985th most common surname in Britain. Around 46 in a million people in Britain are named Giddings.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Giddings
- Stuart Giddings - Football player
- Michael Giddings - Royal Air Force air marshals (1920 to 2009)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.