Margerison

This surname, with variant spellings Margerson, Marger(r)ison, Marjer(r)ison, Marjorison, and Margesson, is a metronymic from the medieval female given name "Margerie", itself coming from the late Latin "Margarita", meaning "Pearl" (borrowed from the Greek "Margaretes", a pearl, but ultimately from a Persian word meaning "child of light"). One John Margerie was recorded in the 1195 Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. The metronymic forms of the name first appear in Yorkshire (see below), and one Robert Majorison was recorded in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns Records of that county. The name is still most widespread in Yorkshire. On May 10th 1563, Johan Margerson and Raybrowne Wright were married in Birstall. Recordings from London Church Registers include: the marriage of Thomas Margerison and Margaret Buckley on December 2nd 1594, in Tottenham; the christening of Elizabeth Margeryson on April 2nd 1597, at St. Giles' Cripplegate; and the christening of Gilles Margerison on November 8th 1600, also at St. Giles' Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Margeryson, which was dated 1379, in the "Poll Tax Returns Records of Yorkshire", during the reign of King Richard 11, known as "Richard of Bordeaux", 1377 - 1399. 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.