The name Tidwell is derived from the old English name Tideswell, which was in turn derived from the Scandinavian Tidzel, all three essentially meaning "one who dwells by the stream or river". The earliest known English use of the name was a Henry de Tiddeswell, recorded in 1273.
Our own Tidwell history can thus far be traced back to the mid 1700s in Virginia, USA.
Robert Tidwell 1750 - 1806
Little is known about Robert. He was born around 1750 in Virginia, and in the early 1770s married a woman named Mary. The two raised at least fifteen children on a large piece of land in South Carolina. Robert passed away in 1806, leaving behind a will that provides most of the information we have on him.
Robert and Mary's children:
Richard Tidwell, b. 1774, d. 1863
Francis Marion Tidwell, b. 1777, d. 1852
Levi Tidwell, b. 1782, d. 1823
Keziah Tidwell
Delilah Tidwell
Martha Tidwell
Anne Tidwell
Mary Tidwell
John Tidwell
Elizabeth Tidwell
Lucy Tidwell
Ellender Tidwell
James Tidwell
Notley Tidwell
Robert Tidwell
Sources:
Last Will and Testament of Robert Tidwell
1800 Census
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
Richard Tidwell 1774 - 1863
Richard was born in South Carolina, the first born son of Robert and Mary. Upon his father's passing, he acquired a significant amount of land, which he farmed. He married Mildred Goodrum in the 1790s, and the two settled in Tennessee, where they raised at least seven children. Richard passed away in 1863.
Richard and Mildred's children:
James Tidwell, b. 1796, d. 1865
Thomas Tidwell, b. 1797, d. 1857
Rosanna Tidwell, b. 1800, d. 1856
Lewis Tidwell, b. 1814, d. 1862
Greenbury Tidwell, b. 1816, d. 1884
Lucinda Tidwell, b. 1818, d. 1877
Richard Tidwell, b. 1821, d. 1874
Sources:
1850 Census
Gravestone
Lewis Tidwell 1814 - 1862
Lewis was born in Tennessee, the middle child of Richard and Mildred. He, like many before him, spent his life as a farmer. In the late 1830s or early 1840s, he married Rebecca Wagstaff, and the two raised eight children on their Tennessee farm. Lewis passed away in 1862.
Lewis and Rebecca's children:
Ann Tidwell, b. 1841
Mary Tidwell, b. 1844
James Tidwell, b. 1846
Sarah Tidwell, b. 1847
John Tidwell, b. 1851
Josephine Tidwell, b. 1852, d. 1904
Robert Tidwell, b. 1855
Thomas Tidwell, b. 1858
Sources:
1850 & 1860 Census
Josephine Tidwell 1852 - 1904
Josephine was born in 1852, the youngest daughter of Lewis and Rebecca. In 1877, she married Winston Hooker, and the two raised seven children in Texas. She passed away in 1904.
For more information on Josephine and Winston's family, please visit the Hooker page.