This interesting and unusual name is a variant spelling of the Late Middle English "Mudge", itself a derivative of "Mudde" and meaning one who dwelt by a swamp or marsh. The name spelling is very rare, partly because the normal name for this circumstance is "Marsh". The name has an early heraldic record. The first name holder directing that his Coat of Arms of three black cockerells on a silver field be engraved on his Tombstone. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Mugge. which was dated c. 1495, Guildford, Surrey. during the reign of King Henry VII, Henry Tudor, 1485 - 1510. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.