Tidwell Family History & Genealogy

History

From informal reading over many years, it appears the surname Tidwell comes from high in the Pennine Mountain range in northern Midlands of England.  There is a very old town there named Tidewill.  Supposedly, the name derives from a Saxon chief named Tidi, dating to the 8th century or so.  the word "well" in place names literally means water well.  There are abundant, powerful, cold artesian wells in the Pennines.  Local chiefs would claim one and the surrounding region as their territory.  So it is loosely Tidi's Well.  I've been to Tidewell, and it's a lovely old settlement.
 

Name Origin

As written above, the name literally means Tidi's Well.  It is spelled many different ways over the centuries.  Tidewell, Tiddeswell, Tideswall, Tyddeswell, and so forth.  There are many nearby towns with similar names...all referring to the artesian well bubbling up with life-giving pure water -- Bakewell, Blackwell, etc.

Spellings & Pronunciations

Tidwell, Tidewell, Tidwall, Tidewall, Tydwell, Tyddeswell, Tyddeswall...there may be more.

Nationality & Ethnicity

The name Tidwell comes from high in the Pennine Mountain range in northern Midlands of England...in Derbyshire.  It is alledged to be from a Saxon chief named Tidi, who settled there in the 8th century or about that time. It's English in origin.  Typical of English midlands, of Saxon orgin.  There were persons of our more recent history who came from France with William the Conqueror, and were rewarded with manors and lands.

Famous People named Tidwell

There were three Tidwell brothers who came to the Virginia Colony in about 1650.  They had "plantations" along the Yeocomico River.  They may have been locally famous as early settlers, successful planters, and community members.

Early Tidwells

These are the earliest records we have of the Tidwell family.