Pegler

This name, with variant spelling 'Pedlar', and 'Pidler' has two possible origins, the first of which is from the Middle English word 'pedde' meaning a pannier or basket, and is an occupational surname for a pedlar, someone who carried goods for sale from place to place. The market in Norwich was known as 'the ped market' from the fact that the wares were brought in from the country in peds, wicker baskets. The second origin is from a nickname for a fleet runner. It is derived from the Old French 'pie de lievre' meaning 'hare's foot', a development of the late Latin 'pes de Lepore'. On September 26th 1627, Thomas Pegler married Elizabeth Askill in St. Margaret's, Westminster, London. One Charles Pegler was christened on May 20th 1660 in St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Pedelare, which was dated 1307, Middle English Surnames of Occupation for Worcestershire, during the reign of King Edward 1, 'The Hammer of the Scots', 1272-1307. 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.