Morstatt

This unusual surname is of German origin, and is locational from the town of Morstadt. The name translates as "fen town (or city)", an inhabitant of Morstadt being known as a Morstaedter, another form of the surname. The name is recorded heraldically in Germany in both Rothensburg and Schwabisch-Hall, the Coat of Arms being a ram springing on a red field. It is not clear from the records why the name spelling as Morstatt should run alongside the more obvious Morstadt or Moerstadt, but nevertheless this is the case and has been since the mid 18th Century. German surname recordings are usually erratic and later than British, however, in this case, the recordings are constant. They include: Sophia Catherina Maria Morstadt, born on June 1st 1757, at Laufen, Loerrach, Baden, whilst on August 27th 1770, Sophia Magdalena Morstatt married Christof August Eisenlohr on March 1st 1770, at the same place. On June 18th 1780, Valentin Morstatt married Eva Schweinshaut at Konig-Shofen, Mosbach, Baden. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johan Casper Moerstadt, which was dated January 27th 1722, marriage to Martha Koenig, at Ufhoven, Sachsen, Germany, during the reign of Charles 11, Holy Roman (German) Emperor, 1711 - 1740. 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.