Fackrell

Despite its "English" appearance, this surname is pure French, and a genuine Huguenot refugee name of the late 17th Century. It is clear from the recordings that the original name holders fled the continent after the repeal by King Louis X1V of France of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 which protected the protestants. The name in its original spellings of Fouquerolles and Fouquesolles is recorded Heraldically in the Picardy region however the name itself is believed to be of early German origin, and to derive from "Folk" (people) plus "hard" (hardy) - The hardy people, the later surnames being forms of patronymic. The recordings in England do demonstrate the name development, these include Jean Fauquerell of London in 1730, Samuel Vackerel of Deptford in 1766. The first as "Fackrell" being one James Fackrell recorded on February 1st 1785 at St. Mary Whitechapel and again on November 20th 1791 at the church of St. Dunstans, Stepney. The change in spelling was probably "political" to avoid the stigma of a French "ivoking" name. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jacques Foucquerel, which was dated May 21st 1699, a witness at the French Huguenot church, Threadneedle Street, London, during the reign of King William 111 of Orange and England, 1689 - 1702. 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.