Earwaker

This very unusual surname is English but probably of Anglo-Saxon pre 7th century origins. Recorded in the surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London from medieval times as Earwaker, Earwicker, Earweker, and Erricker, it would appear to be occupational and to describe somebody who does a job of work. The nearest that we have been able to find that in anyway complies is that of warracker. A warracker was a builder whose specific work involved errecting scaffolding, with a warrack being a piece of triangular wood that was driven into the corners of the scaffolding to "lock" the structures. The origination is believed to be from a Roman (Latin) word "eringere" meaning to erect. Early examples of the surname recording from the London registers include: Martha Earwacker, who married Benjamin Stevens at St Mary's, Putney, on September 1st 1765, Joseph Earweker, the son of John Earweker, at St Martins in the Field, Westminster, on September 11th 1785, and finally Lizzy Erricker, christened at Teddington Lock, Middlesex, on September 5th 1863.