Surname Liddon - Meaning and Origin

Liddon: What does the surname Liddon mean?

The surname Liddon is believed to have originated from Northern England, precisely from a place named Liddel in Cumberland. It is considered a locational surname, typically given to people who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree, or derived from the name of a town or village. In this case, Liddon could either derive from the Old English elements "hlith," meaning "slope," or "hlude," meaning "loud," and "dun" meaning "hill," - suggesting it was given to people living near a loud hill or a sloping hill. As with many ancient surnames, there are several spelling variations including Liddon, Liddan, Lidden, Lyddon, Lydon, and others. These variations often resulted from the phonetic spelling used in ancient times where scribes wrote names as they sounded. Over time, the Anglicization of names has also resulted in multiple versions. Overall, though, surnames like Liddon provide a glimpse into the linguistic and geographical history of the people who bear them.

Liddon: Where does the name Liddon come from?

The surname Liddon is believed to have English origins, specifically deriving from the medieval English given name "Lydon", which itself possibly originated from a place-name in Devonshire. The Liddon family history traces back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain.

The surname is relatively rare and is not particularly common in any specific region today. However, it can be episodically found scattered in English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. That being said, it tends to be less common than other English surnames. The frequency of this last name has historically been highest in the South West of England (Devon), according to surname distribution data and historical records.

This surname has many spelling variations including Liddon, Lidon, Lydon, Lidney, Lydden, Lidden, and several others, which can make it more difficult to track.

Variations of the surname Liddon

The surname Liddon has known several variations throughout history, mainly due to regional dialects and phonetic spelling. It has English origins with likely roots from old English geographical locations.

Here are few variants and spellings for the surname Liddon:

- Lidden

- Lyddon

- Lydon

- Liddan

- Liddane

- Lyddan

- Liddens

- Littin

- Litten

- Lyttin

- Lidon

- Lidydon

There might be other possible variations due to many factors including translation into different languages, different phonetic spellings, and the practice of changing names upon immigration.

Rarely, the surname can also be connected with other surnames of similar sound or origin, such as 'Lidstone', however, this doesn't indicate that they share the same lineage or ancestry. It's also worth noting that, as with many surnames, the further you go back in history the more possible variations you may encounter.

The surname Liddon and its variations are most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in Devon and Cornwall, suggesting the name's roots could lie within these regions. However, genealogical research would be needed to confirm particular ties to ancestral lines or geographical areas.

Famous people with the name Liddon

• Septimus Liddon: 19th century English clergyman
• Robert Liddon: 20th century British actor
• Henry Parry Liddon: 19th century English theologian and hymn-writer
• Edward Liddon: 19th century British naturalist, geologist and novelist
• William Liddon: 19th century British architect
• "Pater” Liddon: 19th century priest and son of Septimus Liddon
• Mary Ellen Liddon: 19th century British novelist
• Douglas Liddon: 20th century British actor
• David Liddon: modern British pilot
• John Alexander Liddon: 20th century British actor

Other surnames

Liddol