Liptrot

This interesting name, widely recorded in Lancashire church registers from the mid 16th Century, is believed to derive from the Old German personal name Liobtrut, a compound of the elements "liob" meaning "dear", plus "trut", beloved. Recordings include the christening of John, son of William Liptrot, in Chorley on July 30th 1559; the christening of Elizabeth Lyptrott in Leigh on April 15th 1560, and the marriage of Alice Liptrot to John Mercer in Croston on March 2nd 1590. The following namebearers were entered in 17th Century Wills Records held at Chester: Richard Liptrot, of Lowton, (1601); Jane Liptrott, of Haulgh, parish of Bolton, (1617) and John Liptrott, Yeoman, of Lawton, Lancashire, (1647). Variations on the name in London church registers include Lyptrade (1579), Lyptrit with Liptratt (1602) and Liptrod (1612). On January 25th 1628, John, son of Luke Liptrot, was christened in St. Mary Whitechapel, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Liptrot, (marriage to Joan Walls), which was dated June 9th 1554, Kirkham, Lancashire, during the reign of Queen Mary, known as "Bloody Mary", 1553 - 1558. 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.