This surname ADDIS is of the baptismal group of surnames meaning 'the son of Adam'. A popular font name in Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire in the 17th century. The name was borne according to Genesis, by the first man. It is of uncertain etymolology, and often said to be from the Hebrew ADAMA (earth). The Greek legend that Zeus fashioned the first human beings from earth. It was very popular as a given name throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. After the Crusades in Europe a need was felt for an added name to the one that had been given at birth. This was recognized by the nobility, as it added prestige to their status. Early records of the name mention William Ade who rendered homage in Scotland in the year 1296. Andreas Ade is recorded in Edinburgh in 1357, and Donald Ade was a presbyter in the diocese of Dunblane in 1465. During the Middle Ages, when people were unable to read or write, signs were needed for all visual identification. For several centuries city streets in Britain were filled with signs of all kinds, public houses, tradesmen and even private householders found them necessary. This was an age when there were no numbered houses, and an address was a descriptive phrase that made use of a convenient landmark. At this time, coats of arms came into being, for the practical reason that men went into battle heavily armed and were difficult to recognise. It became the custom for them to adorn their helmets with distinctive crests, and to paint their shields with animals and the like. Coats of arms accompanied the development of surnames, becoming hereditary in the same way. Later instances of the name include a payment which was made in 1606 'for horss to hyir' to David Aidye who appears as a member of the council of Aberdeen in 1624. James Adie sat in Parliament for Perth in 1596. William Aidy was one of the regents of Marischal College in 1644. Aedie of Moneaght are an old family of Aberdeen burgesses, and there were also Adies of Newark in Aberdeenshire. George Cardno Adie from New Byth served in the first Great War. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory.