This surname of AWDRY was an ancient English personal name, which was derived from the female given name ALDREDA, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as AEOELPRYO, composed of the elements AEOEL (noble) and PRYO (strength). This was fairly common from the earliest times, and its popularity was increased by the fame of St. Ethelreda (died 679) queen of Northumbria and founder of the convent at Ely. St. Awdry's Fair was held on October 17th at the Isle of Ely and its St. Awdry necklaces, showy, but cheap, gave rise to the term 'tawdry-lace' whence the adjective tawdry. The earliest of the name on record appears to be ETHELDREDA le Ray, who was recorded during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377), and AWDRIE Butts of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Hereditary surnames were originally imported from France into England during the Norman Conquest of 1066. In the two centuries or so after the Conquest surnames were acquired by most families of major landholders, and many landed families of lesser importance. There appears to have been a constant trickle of migration into Britain between about the years 1200 and 150O, mostly from France and the Low Countries, with a small number of migrants from Scandinavia, Germany, Italy and the Iberian peninsular, and occasional individuals from further afield. During this period groups of aliens settled in this country as for example, the Germans who from the late 15th century onwards settled in Cumbria to work the metal mines. Immigration during this time had only a small effect on the body of surnames used in Britain. In many cases, the surnames of immigrants were thoroughly Anglicised. The late sixteenth century saw the arrival, mostly in London and the south-coast ports of large numbers of people fleeing from the war regions of France. Later instances of the name mention Humphrey AWDRY, who was transported to Virginia on the ship 'THOMAS' on the 21st August in the year 1635. AWDREY, daughter of John Cooke was baptised at St. Dionis, Backchurch, London in the year 1610, and Rowland Hopkins and AUDEREY Stevens were married at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1768.