Heller - Meno

This rare and interesting name is of medieval English origin and is a topographical name for a 'dweller by a hill', deriving from the Old English pre 7th Century 'hyll' a hill, or in this instance 'atte hulle', at the hill. Hullah is generally considered to be a Yorkshire name, with Heller more common in South-Eastern England. Hull(e)s, and Huller are also variants of this name, and have the same derivation. Topographical names are some of the earliest names to be created, as topographical features, whether natural or manmade, provided obvious and convenient means of identification. Amongst the recordings of this name in London are the christenings of Robert Hullah on January 14th 1753, and John Hullah on March 2nd 1760, both at St. Mary's, St. Marylebone. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph le Hullere, which was dated 1327, in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as 'The Father of the Navy', 1327-1377. 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.