Undy

This most interesting and unusual name is of locational origin from a parish and village called "Undy", near Newport, Monmouthshire (now Gwent) in Wales. This placename may be composed of the Welsh element "Ynn", ash, plus the Olde English element "-eg", "-ieg", island (often found as "-ey" and "-y" in placenames). Locational names were originally given to the lord of the manor or as a means of identification to those who left their place of birth to seek work elsewhere. The surname itself first appears in the late 16th Century (see below). Early recordings which appear in the Church Registers of the Church of St. Bride at Fleet Street in London include the christening of Thomas, son of John Undye on May 30th 1596; and the christening of one Elizabeth Undye which occurred on January 25th 1600. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Undie which was dated April 29th 1588, marriage to Elizabeth Tayler, at "Sutton by East Retford, Nottingham", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.