Baybutt - Name

This is a transposed spelling of an Olde English medieval name which dates from the time when the practising of Archery was required by law and village 'Butts' provided. In this case, the name was originally 'Byethebutts', a topographical name similar in style to Bywaters (Byethewater) and (Byethewood), but rarer than both. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Byethebuttys which was dated 1380, The Deeds of Norwick during the reign of King Richard II, Richard of Bordeaux, 1378 - 1400 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.