The true origination of the Odd Fellows is lost in the mystery of history. Some historians trace its roots back to the Medieval Trade Guilds of the 12th and 13th Centuries. Others estimated that it existed before 1650. What is clear is that there were a number of Odd Fellow groups in England in the 1700's.
The earliest surviving printed official lodge record is said to be the “Rules of Loyal Aristarchus Lodge no.9” in England dated March 12, 1748. This establishes the fact that this lodge had been operating for some time prior to this date, and its number indicates that at least eight other lodges had existed up to that time.