Grisbrook

An example of the near complete transposition of a locational name to the point where its origin is almost completely camouflaged. Derived from the Lancashire name Scarisbrick, the name was originally found in London as Scarsbrook (c. 1800) from which there have been a series of further dialectual changes including Scarbrok, Carbrook and Grisbrook. The origin of the name is Norse-Viking from 'Sker' meaning a rock and 'wic' - a farm, from the pre 9th century A.D. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Scarisbrig. which was dated 1508 The Wills List of Chester. during the reign of King Henry V11 Henry Tudor 1485 - 1510. 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.