Introduction (eyden)

INTRODUCTION It was in 1977 that I took the decision to start researching my family name of EYDEN. Most of us at some time are curious about whom we are and this coupled with my love of history was all the encouragement I needed. In those early days, amateur genealogists were very much frowned on by the professional archivists but I was undaunted. To be handed a musty, yellowing book or document, often centuries old which gave an insight into the lives and times of my ancestors was magical. Today, the procedure is more clinical with the introduction of microfilms and computers but the thrill of a “find” is just the same. My original 4 inch notebook has now mushroomed into numerous files, books and charts. In October 1804, a marriage took place at Bourton on Dunsmore, in Warwickshire between a Job Edden and a Susannah Eyden who became my 3 x great grandparents. Thereafter, the spelling of my family name changed from Edden to Eyden. Phonetically,(depending on local accent) the two surnames are very similar. They may have been different lines of the same family, though no connection has been found to date. It is possible that Susannah had received some education and was therefore more literate. It may have been quite by chance that her spelling of the name was accepted. Susannah’s family in Tiffield, Northamptonshire were comparatively more wealthy and prominent than Job’s family in Tysoe, Warwickshire. So, another possible reason for the adoption of her surname was to remain in favour with her own family and indeed, Susannah is named as a beneficiary of her father’s Will of 1806. In the late 1970’s, I made a trip to Tiffield and uncovered the Eyden family who have resided there for at least 4 centuries. W. Frank Eyden, a retired builder and a churchwarden, lived there with his last surviving sister (Constance), in the family home surrounded by family heirlooms. To read the original parchment parish registers which were in his care, while drinking tea made from his well-water and eating honey made by bees from his hives was a very enjoyable episode. Near to Tiffield and also in Northamptonshire is the village of EYDON. Though no direct link has been found between the Eyden family of Tiffield and Eydon the place, a connection is possible. It is not improbable that at a time before surnames were used, a native of or a family from Eydon moved away and their badge of identity might be from where they originated. So, for example, John of Eydon later became John Eydon. At the time of the Domesday Survey (1086) the village of Eydon is recorded as ‘Egedone’ but over the ensuing years, particularly during the 13th century, the name is recorded differently in official documents. The Assize Rolls of 1202 record it as ‘Eindon’ and in 1219 as ‘Heydon’ from which it probably evolved into Eydon.

Another theory about the family origins is that the Eydens may have come from the Low Countries (Netherlands) and indeed the name can still be found there. The name is also found in old Prussia. The Dutch surname is sometimes prefixed by “Van” and with alternate spellings of Eijden and Eiden. Through the centuries and often due to religious wars, many Dutch folk have crossed the North Sea and landed in eastern England. Gradually, they would have moved further inland. And it is not unthinkable that one or two followed the River Nene from it’s outlet in The Wash to its source in Northamptonshire. The Dutch explanation of the name is that it is derived from the “heyde” or “heide” meaning a moor or heath and so the inhabitants of that area were called ‘heyden’s or ‘heiden’s. Just as happens in spoken English, the letter ‘h’ was often dropped and the name became corrupted to Eiden or Eyden. It is interesting to note that in some English parish registers the names Eyden, Edden and Eden sometimes revert back to Heyden, Hedden and Heden. A few miles south of Amsterdam, there was an area of moorland called Het Gooi which was mainly owned and inhabited by Eydens but the Dutch government compulsorily purchased it in order to develop it. Another enjoyable experience I had was a holiday in the Netherlands, exploring the home land of the Dutch Eydens. In 1991, after further research had uncovered relatives in Australia, the holiday of a lifetime was undertaken. Of all the wonderful people and places, the best experience was probably the meeting with my great-great aunt Maud, then aged 102 and who went on to live until shortly before her 105th birthday. She had married Charles Eyden whose parents (Charles and Eliza Eyden) had left Bourton on Dunsmore, Warwicks in 1877/8 for hopefully a better life. I also met Beth Crawford, a descendant of Selina Eyden (Charles Snr’s youngest sister) who also went to Australia. Beth has a bible and some dinner plates which travelled with Selina from Bourton. I would like to thank everyone who has provided long forgotten photos and stories and patiently listened to my endless tales of research. Many lives have become intermingled with this family and all have histories of their own. Still, the research goes on because when some questions are answered, others arise and of course family history is a never ending story. Teresa (Eyden) Wycherley 2006