Commander

This interesting surname of English origin is an occupational name for one who commands, a ruler, or a leader, deriving from the middle English "comander", "comande(u)r". Sometimes it may have derived from the old French "comandeor" meaning "officer in charge of a commandery" e.g. the Knights of Templars". The surname dates back to the late 13th Century, (see below). Other recordings include, one William le Comandur (1296), "the Ministers Accounts of the Earldom of Cornwall". Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Comander, Comannder, Commandre, etc.. One Babtyset Commandre was christened on January 14th 1551 at St. James, Garlickhithe, London. Elizabeth Commander daughter of Babtist, was christened at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London on September 12th 1588, and Joseph, son of Baptyst Comannder, was christened at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London on February 18th 1589. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Comandur, which was dated 1274, "The Hundred Rolls of Somerset", during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.