The English surname Tuddenham, and its variants Tudnam and Tudman, is of toponymic origin; that is, it belongs to the category of surnames derived from the place where the initial bearer once lived or held land. In this instance, the name indicates "one who came from Tuddenham," the name of several places in Norfolk and Suffolk. The toponym Tuddenham is derived from the Old English personal name Tudda, which is of unknown origin, and the Old English word "ham," meaning "homestead." Thus the name can literally be translated as "Tudda's homestead."
This toponym is first recorded in the Domesday Book of Norfolk — a written record of a survey and census of English landowners and their property, carried out between 1085 and 1087 by order of William the Conqueror.
"In (North) Tuddenham Richard holds. 11 smallholders. Always 5 ploughs; meadow, 10 acres; always 2 mills. Value always 4 pounds. The whole of Hockering has ½ league in length and ½ in width, tax of 5½d. (North) Tuddenham has 5 furlongs in length and 4 in width, tax of 12½d, whoever holds there. 2 churches, 20 acres; value 16d." Domesday Book, Norfolk
In 1191 the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk contain references to John de Tudeham and John Tudnham. Thomas Tudnam and William Tudman are mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1524.
The Arms
- Blazon of Arms
- Lozengy argent and gules.
- Translation
- The simplicity of this coat of arms is a testimony to its antiquity. Argent (white) represents the Moon and indicates Purity and Innocence. Gules (red) symbolises the planet Mars and denotes Military Fortitude and Magnanimity.
- Crest
- A lion gules.
- Origin
- England.
Reproduced from a Family Name History certificate
issued by The Historical Research Center · registered 17 December 1993