Hush - Meno

This is a habitational name which derives from "Hus" meaning a house. It is generally of Olde English origins but may also be Anglo-Saxon, and by a further complication - French Huguenot! it is generally accepted that, the name refers to one who resided either at "The manor house or possibly a religious seminary such as a Monastery". This is confirmed by the fact that in the pre medieval period, very few persons lived in any form of comfort, the average dwelling being at best a Cottage and more usually a "hut". The name recordings include Hansi Hush, a witness at St. Martins in the Field, Westminster on October 26th 1641, whilst William Husses was a witness at the church of St. Nicholas Acons, London, on October 10th 1658. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Hushe, which was dated August 24th 1595, baptised at St. Giles Church, Cripplegate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.