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The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Profile	Posted by	Options	Post Date
Member Since: November 2006 Posts: 8 Send Message	LizandPhil	Report	15 Jun 2007 10:08
Member Since: November 2006 Posts: 8 Send Message	Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames gives earliest example as Thomas Hirdson, from Cumberland Subsidy Rolls in 1332. Earlist Herdson, with an 'e', although spelling wasn't fixed in those days, is Gilbert Herdson in the Rolls of Burgesses at the Guilds Merchant of the Borough of Preston (Lancashire) in 1415. The name means 'son of the herd' (no suprises there, then!) I have my own pet theory about this. I wonder if the original Herdson owned cattle, whilst everyone around him up there in chilly Cumberland had sheep?

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