Warn

One of the most famous Norman names and originating from the village of La Varenne, in Seine-Inferiere, Normandy. The original name holders were soldiers of William 1, and were rewarded with several land grants and they built castles at Lewes, Reigate, and Castle Acre in Norfolk. In the modern idiom the name has five spelling variations including Warne(s), Wearn(e) and Warn. From 1273 (The Hundred Rolls of Somerset Norfolk etc.) until 1707 (John, son of Stephen Warne, baptised in St. Columb Major Church, Cornwall) the name is spelt Warne. The dropping of the final 'e' is a more recent occurence post 1800. One Richard Warren sailed for the New World in 1620 on board the Mayflower. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Warene, 1st Earl of Surrey. which was dated 1086 The Domesday Book, Suffolk. during the reign of King William 1 The Conqueror, 1066 - 1087. 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.