Local

This very unusual spelling is either a French Huguenot variant of the Medieval 'Localin' recorded in the District of Tournaise circa 1680 or it is a dialectual transposition of the Olde English 'Loc halh' or 'Lock Hall', - the house in the enclosure. The second posibility is much the most likely as we have not been able to obtain positive proof as to the Huguenot association. What is even odder is that we have been unable to provide any recordings before the early 18th Century in any spelling. The name development includes Grace Lockhall who married Edward Darby at St. Bololph, Bishopgate, London in 1753, whilst Elizabeth Luckell was found in Gloucester in 1704. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Lockall, which was dated 1726, Witness on March 29th at St. Martins in the Field, London, during the reign of King George I, 'Hanover George', 1715 - 1727. 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.