This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the pedder,' a chap man, a pedlar.' Peddare, calatharius, piscarius' (Promptorium Parvulorum), i.e. one who makes baskets, or one who hawks fish, from ped, a pannier or basket. The market in Norwich was, or is, a ped-market, according to Way, from the fact that the wares were brought in from the country in peds, and thus exposed for sale. Hence in general a hawker or pedlar. Way has many references from the Paston Letters, Tusser, and others to the 'ped,' or wicker basket. Skeat explains pedlar from a diminutive peddle, a little ped, hence through peddle-er to pedler and pedlar.

Martin le Peddere, Norfolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Hugh le Pedder, c. 1300, Writs of Parliament.

William Pedelcure, ibid.

Thomas le Pedeler. Documents Illustrative of English History.

William Pedman, Pipe Roll, Richard I.

Johannes Fox, pedder, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1616. Married — Richard Pedder and Ann Gayle: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1771. — James Evans and Mary Pedder: St. George, Hanover Square.

From the occupation, ME. pedder, a packman, pedlar.

'The pirat pressis to peyll the pedder his pak.' Douglas, Prol. to VIII bk. of Eneados.

John Peddar leased part of Kethyk, c. 1443 and Patrick Pedar held part of the same in 1457 (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 119,132). John Pedder had a tack of four acres in Betschell haich from the abbot of Cupar in 1558 (ibid., II, p. 172-173), and Sir Alexander Pedder, a Pope's knight, resigned the vicarage of Awoch in the same year (RPC.). Andrew Pedder was a student at the University of Aberdeen in 1627; Lennard Pedder in record in Elgin, 1661 (Rec. Elgin, II, p. 299), and John Pedder was a trade burgess in Aberdeen in 1673 (ROA., I, p. 237). The names of Patrick Pettare, witness in Forfarshire, 1479 (Southesk, p. 720), and James Petter, W. S., Melrose, 1683 (RRM., III, p. 12) are probably from the same source. John Scott, pethar, in Hawick, 1655 (Annals of Hawick, 1850, p. 70.)

= Peddar, Pedder (q.v.); the -l- being due to a formation on a diminutive, ped(d)le, of ped, a basket, etc.

In various English dialects signifies a Pedlar; but it must not be regarded as a corruption of that word; a ped, in the eastern counties, means a species of hamper without a lid, for the conveyance of fish, eggs, chicken, &c,; and the person who traffics in such small articles is therefore very properly styled a Pedder, See Halliwell.