Storrs

This interesting name derives from the Olde Norse personal\nickname Stori, a derivative of "Storr" meaning "big" or "large". The forenames Stori and Estori (without surname) are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The surname form this source first appears at the beginning of the 13th Century (see below). One, Thomas Storre appears in the 1379 "Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire". The variant forms of the name Storr, Storre Storres and Storrs, also Stor(e)y are well recorded in northern English county records, especially in Yorkshire, from the mid 16th century onwards. One, James Storie, is recorded as a polentarious (malt-maker) in heith in 1646. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alexander Story, which was dated 1248 - The Fine Court Rolls of Essex, during the reign of King Henry III, The Frenchman, 1216 - 1272. 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.