Dummett

This rare and interesting name is of French origin, probably introduced into England after the Norman Invasion of 1066, and is an Anglicization of a locational name from Dumart-en-Ponthlieu (Somme), France. The following example illustrates the name development after 1150 (see below), Aliz de Dumart, or de Dummart (1200 - 1201, Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire), but the modern variant form is Dummett. During the Middle Ages when it became more customary for people to migrate from their native home, generally to seek work elsewhere, they would often adopt the placename as a means of identification, thus resulting in a wide dispersal of the name. Among the recordings from London Church Registers is the marriage of George Dommett and Martha Calley on November 29th 1739, at St. Anne's, Soho. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gerald de Domnomeardo, which was dated circa 1150, in Sir Christopher Hatton's "Book of Seals", Northamptonshire, during the reign of King Stephen, known as "Count of Blois", 1135 - 1154. 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.