Wealthall

Recorded as Walthall and Wealthall, this interesting name is English. It has been well recorded particularly in the diocese of Greater London, since at least the time of the first Queen Elizabeth (1558 - 1603). It is locational and apparently from a now 'lost' medieval village or hamlet, called 'Waella-halh' or similar. This translates as 'the house (or hall) by the spring', although it is also possible that the name could translate as 'the house on the walled bank', and perhaps refer to a formerly fortified position. Lost villages are a feature of the British Isles, and it is estimated that at least three thousand tsurnames do originate from such places, of which usually the only reminder of its former existence, is the surname itself. The surviving surname recordings include examples such as Lulas Wallthall of Cornhill, in the city of London in 1590, and Richard Wealthell who married Susan Walth on July 7th 1608 at the church of St. Katherine's by the Tower (of London). Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.