Surname Giddens - Meaning and Origin
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Giddens: What does the surname Giddens mean?
The last name Giddens is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word “gydan” which means “to give” or “to gift.” Early records of the surname suggest that Giddens was a nickname-type surname given to people who were generous and hospitable. In some cases, it may also have been an occupational surname used to identify a “giver” such as a church official who bestowed gifts or tithes to the congregation.
As a surname, Giddens is relatively rare. Today, it is not uncommon to see variations of the spelling such as Giddins or Gidens. Giddens is primarily found in the United States, with concentrations in the South and Southwest.
The name Giddens is also connected to a nobility heritage. Sir Dudley Giddens was a Peer of the Realm and Justice of the Peace in 1563. His descendants, the Reverend Ambrose Giddens of Sutton, Surrey, were considered to be the earliest known relatives of the Giddens family.
To have the name Giddens is to be in possession of a proud and storied heritage. As members of the Giddens family, we can be proud of the generosity, hospitality, and nobility of our ancestors. The characteristics of the Giddens clan serve as reminders for us to be generous and hospitable people in our own lives.
Order DNA origin analysisGiddens: Where does the name Giddens come from?
The last name Giddens is most commonly found in the United States today. According to Ancestry.com, Giddens is the 4,178th most common surname in the U.S., and can be found in the most populous states such as California, Texas, and Florida.
Giddens is also relatively popular in Oklahoma, where it stands at 1,271 as the 183rd most common last name. The surname is also prominent in North Carolina, Louisiana, and Georgia. It appears to be least common in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Illinois.
The internet suggests the Origins of Giddens as an English surname, originally meaning "God's grace." It is thought to have been first established in the area of Hampshire.
The distribution of Giddens demonstrates that some parts of the United States likely saw more immigration from the UK than others due to moves of families or individuals searching for a better life. It is also possible that the name was spread to different American states due to each generation moving to different parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Giddens
The surname Giddens is of English and Scottish origin. Variants of the name include Gidden, Giddon, Gidden, Gidens, Giddins, Gidings, Gidding, Gidons, Kiddens, Kiddins, Kidding, and Kiddings.
The different spellings originated from various dialects spoken during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain. As spelling was not yet standardized in these times, the spellings mentioned here could have resulted from the phonetic spelling of the word.
The surname Giddens is thought to be derived from the Middle English word "gidde;" meaning ‘a dreamer or madman’. Variations can be found throughout the U.K., with the highest concentrations in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Giddens is a fairly common name in modern times. Its pronunciation and spelling may have varied slightly among local dialects, leading to several spelling variations. Through the years, the name has been continued through inter-marriages of families of a common ancestor and in some cases, the same surname has been carried through different lines of the same family.
In Scotland, many of the variants are derived from the Gaelic phrase "duthchas gu duin," which translates to “native to a certain place." Names that receive this origin include Gidnet, Gidney, Gidwin, Gidwen, and Giddin.
Overall, the name Giddens has many variants, spellings, and surnames that all stem from its original English and Scottish roots. The most common variants of the name are Gidden and Giddens, but all the spelling variations are easily traceable to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Giddens
- Rhiannon Giddens: American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
- Anthony Giddens: British sociologist
- Tracy Giddens: American Olympic swimmer
- LaTonya Giddens: American actress
- Paul Giddens: Australian author and journalist
- Rick Giddens: American film and television editor
- Jacob Giddens: American professional baseball pitcher
- T.D. Giddens: American college football coach
- Chad Giddens: American screenwriter
- Derek Giddens: American fashion designer