Eaude

Eaude (pronounced to rhyme with "loud") is an English surname mostly found in Lancashire.

Variants of the surname are Youd, Youde, and Yould, however Youds is not part of this group.

The earliest record dates from 1679 when the name appears in Farnworth near Widnes, formerly in Lancashire.

Currently little is known about the meaning or origin of this unusual and rare surname, it is not listed in any books of British surnames.

This has led to theories of Huguenot, Flemish or Jewish roots which cannot be substantiated.

Viking roots are a more likely possibility as the Wirral peninsula was colonised by Norwegian Vikings from 902 AD onwards and Viking settlements also existed to the North in West Lancashire and to the West in Cheshire.

It is hoped that DNA profiling from suitable Eaude descendants will prove or disprove this theory.

The first record of the family name occurs in March 1679 with the baptism of Gulielmus (William) Eaude, son of Johannnis (John) Eaude in St Luke's Church, Farnworth, formerly St. Wilfrid. The father is thought to have come from Cheshire, where the name first occurs in 1561.

The Eaude variant spelling then spreads from Farnworth to Winwick, Warrington and Wigan, all within Lancashire.

Over 40 variants of the surname were recorded in the 16th and 17th century, some examples are: Yewd, Yeud, Yeoud, Yowd, Yeowed, Yowood, Eude, Eaude, Ewd, Hude, Hewde etc.

Today only Youd, Youde, Eaude and Yould are in use.

According to the Office for National Statistics only 11 people named Eaude lived in England & Wales in 2002, together with 670 Youd, 227 Youde and 104 Yould.

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