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Where did the name come from? Do You know?

There is some confusion as to where the name Tidswell really originated, there are variations on the actual spelling:

Tidswell : Tiddswell : Tideswell : Tidwall : Tidwell

To list only but a few, if you know more please let me know and I may include it here.

One thought is that in Derbyshire in the Peak District of England, there was a well and a chap owned it who went by the name of “Tiddy” hence the well became known as “Tiddieswell”.

Another story is that the well had a tide flow, which would lower and raise the level of the water within the well according to the local tide (considering Derbyshire is some way from the sea, it would be difficult) hence the name “Tides swell”.

Thanks to Louise Mechin (Tidswell) a Yorkshire Lass who now lives in Australia, who has provided me with the following explanations, in addition to the Tidswell Family Crest on the top of the page.

The surname of Tidswell is of the locational group of surnames "from Tideswell" a place in County Derbyshire.

The name is locally pronounces as Tidza.

The name was derived from the old English word Tiddeswell and literally meant the dweller by the stream.

The names of habitation are derived from pre-existing names denting owns, villages, farmsteads or to other named habitations. Other classes of local names include those derived from the names of rivers, individual houses with signs on them, regions and in fact whole countries. As a general rule, the further someone traveled from his place of origin, the broader the designation. Someone who stayed at home might be known by the name of his farm or locality in the parish, someone who moved to another town might be known by the name of his village, while someone who moved to another county could acquire the name of the county or region from which he originated.

The earliest of the name on record appears to be Tideswelle (without surname) who listed as a tenant in the Doomsday Book of 1086.Tiddeswell (without surname) appears in Derbyshire in the year 1230. Warin de Tideswell was documented in County Northumberland in the year 1206 and Henry de Tiddeswell appears in 1336. Ricardus de Tyddesvelle of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. The name also spelt Tiddswell, Tideswell and Tidsall. Later instances of the name include William Coplande and Joanne Tyddeswell, who married in London in 1545. (No church recorded) and Richard Tidswell and Mary Thorley were married at St Georges Hanover Square London in 1770.

In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter, It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.

The associated coat of arms is recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Registered at County Devon. (Tidswell).

I have also been told that it is linked to the Romans, something to do with guarding someone or something, if you have the answer, I'm sure we all would like to know.

Site Last Updated 31st August 2007