Whymark

This rare and unusual surname is a variant of Wymer, which is of Old Breton origin, derived from the personal name "Wiumarch", composed of the elements "uuiu", worthy, and "march", horse. The name was borne by both men and women and became relatively popular in East Anglia during the early Middle Ages, as a result of the influence of Bretons who settled there in the wake of the Conquest. The name is distinguished by being first recorded in the Domesday Book 1086. The surname development since 1086 (see below) includes: Eche filius Wymeri (circa 1160, Norfolk), William Wymer (1236, Staffordshire) and Adam Wymer (1327, Suffolk), and the modern surname can be found as Wymer, Waymark, Wymark, Whymark, Waymarke and Wymarke. Recorded in the Church Registers of East Anglia are the marriage of Broom Whymark and Catherine Cobb on May 16th 1763 at St. Margaret's, Norwich, Norfolk, and of John Whymark and Mary Wass on November 6th 1765 at Monks Eleigh, Suffolk. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robertus Wimarc, which was dated 1086, in the "Domesday Book", Essex, during the reign of King William 1st, known as "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.