Padden - Meno

This unusual name is a variant of the name Paddon, which has two possible origins, the first being a northern English locational or topographical surname, meaning "the hill path", derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "Paedth", path, plus "dun", hill, so the surname can derive either from a minor place so called or from residence near such a path. The second possible origin is northern English and Scottish and is a diminutive form of the given name "Pat(t)" or "Pate", short forms of "Patrick". This was an extremely popular name during the Middle Ages, partly due to the fame of St. Patrick. It is derived from the Latin "Patricius", meaning "son of a noble fathers" or "member of the patrician class". Jane, daughter of Thomas and Anne Padden was christened at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in September 1739. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Paddon, christened, which was dated 15th September 1586, St. Giles Cripplegate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, 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.