Moscrop

This unusual and interesting surname, with variant spelling Moscropp, first recorded in Scotland in the early 14th Century, is believed to be of topographical origin from residence by a bog or marsh covered with water plants. The component elements of the name are the old English pre 7th Century "mos", related to the old Norse "mosi", meaning "bog, swamp, morass", plus the old English "cropp", a bunch, group or cluster, possibly referring to some water-plants in this instance. One, John dictus Moscrop, witness, was entered in the "Register of Paisley Monastery", dated 1326. Patrick Moscrop was a witness at Crunzeltoun in 1461, and in 1558 Andrew Moscrop, noted in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, was sheriff of Roxburgh. On May 19th 1616 Mary, daughter of Thomas Moscrop was christened in St. James Church, Clerkenwell, London and on July 16th 1658 the marriage of Jean Moscrop and James Veitch took place in Edinburgh, Midlothian. In 1672 John Moscrop, burgess of Jedburgh, was juror on a retour of special service in Duns. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Moscrop, burgess of Jedworth, Roxburghshire, which was dated 1426, "Liber Sancte Marie de Melros", during the reign of King James 1st of Scotland, 1406 - 1437. 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.