Atmore - Meno

A few English topographical names do actually state exactly what they mean, 'Atmore' is one of them. It derives from 'atte mor' and describes a location usually in relation to a village centre, a similar decscriptive name being 'Noakes' - 'atten oakes', or Attridge - The dweller at the ridge. The name development includes Robert Atemor of London (1275), Beatrix Attemor of Norwich in 1385, whilst in 1748 Thomas Hope married Mary Atmore at St. Georges Church, Hanover Square, London. Charles Atmore (1759 - 1825) was president of the Wesleyan Conference in 1811. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Ate Mor, which was dated 1273, The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Edward I, 'The Hammer of the Scots' 1272 - 1307. 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.