Wyant - Name

This very rare name is found in four spellings and probably derives from the Olde German "Wien" (pre 10th Century) a metonymic job description for a "wine seller or grower". The name groups are Wyan, first recorded in 1594 as Jane Wyan of London, Ann Wiane, 1628, St. Mary Magdelene, Olde Fish Street, London and Chistian Wyand, 1692 of Dukes Place, London. The ending of "t" and "d" would seem to be interchangeable in that an Arthur Wyan or possibly Wyand or Wyant is recorded at Christchurch on Neidwood, Staffordshire in 1819. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Grace Wyant. which was dated 1681, St. Katherines, London. during the reign of King Charles II, The Merry Monarch, 1660 - 1685. 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.