Sudell - Name

This is a North English locational name, thought to come from Sud Hill in East Yorkshire - spelt suddale in the 12th Century. The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "sud" meaning South and "doel" - a valley. The name was originally given to those in residence in this southern valley or dale. In the modern idiom, the name is spelt Suddell and Sudell. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Sudale, which was dated 1201, in the Fine Court Rolls of Norfolk, during the reign of King John, known as Lackland, 1199 - 1216. 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.