Easter

Easter
This interesting surname, with the modern variant Easterling, has three possible origins. Firstly, it may be a topographic name for someone who lived to the east of a main settlement, from the Middle English "easter", meaning eastern. This surname could also be a habitational name from a group of villages in Essex, which got their name from the Old English "eowestre", sheepfold. Thirdly, it may be a nickname for someone who had some connection with the festival of Easter, such as being born or baptized at Easter, from the Old English word "eastre", name given to a pagan festival. The earliest recording one finds for this surname dates from the 16th Century, (see below). Other early recordings of the name include a Simon Easter who was christened at St. Martin Pomeroy, London on April 5th 1640. One John, son of Henry Easter, was christened at St. Olave, Southwark, London on October 5th 1645. Mary Easter, daughter of Jacob and Frances was christened at St. Dunstan, Stepney London on September 9th 1649. An unusual bearer of the name was Alexander Hay Lord Easter Kennet (d. 1594) a Scottish judge and clerk to Scottish Privy Council, (1564). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anna Easter, married to Rogerus Cauve, which was dated June 20th 1569, in the "church register at Hollingbourne, Kent", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1607). 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.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Easter — • Includes information on the feast and customs Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Easter     Easter     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Easter — Eas ter ([=e]s t[ e]r), n. [AS. e[ a]ster, e[ a]stran, paschal feast, Easter; akin to G. ostern; fr. AS. E[ a]stre, a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was called in AS. E[ a]sterm[ …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Easter — (engl. Ostern) ist ein englischer Familienname. Bekannte Namensträger Allison Easter, Sängerin David Easter, Musiker Jamal Easter (*1987), britischer Fußballspieler (Wales) Jermaine Easter (*1982), britischer Fußballspieler (Wales) Kenneth… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Easter — Студийный альбом Patti Smith Group Дата выпуска 3 марта, 1978 год Записан Recor …   Википедия

  • Easter — O.E. Easterdæg, from Eastre (Northumbrian Eostre), from P.Gmc. *Austron, a goddess of fertility and spring, probably originally of sunrise whose feast was celebrated at the spring equinox, from *austra , from PIE *aus to shine (especially of the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Easter — Album par Patti Smith Group Sortie 3 mars 1978 Durée 39 min 44 s Genre Rock, Punk rock Producteur Jimmy Iovine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Easter — lily; Easter Monday; Easter Sunday; Easter vacation …   Eponyms, nicknames, and geographical games

  • Easter — (also Easter Day or Easter Sunday) ► NOUN ▪ the festival of the Christian Church celebrating the resurrection of Christ, held (in the Western Church) on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox. ORIGIN Old… …   English terms dictionary

  • Easter — [ēs′tər] n. [ME ester < OE eastre, pl. eastron, spring, Easter; orig., name of pagan vernal festival almost coincident in date with paschal festival of the church < Eastre, dawn goddess < PGmc * Austro (> Ger Ostern) < IE base *… …   English World dictionary

  • Easter — East er, v. i. (Naut.) To veer to the east; said of the wind. Russell. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Easter — (Myth.), so v.w. Eostra …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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