Worms

The ancient city of Worms in the former Duchy of Dalmstadt in Southern Germany is probably the place of origin of some nameholders. However, there is some contradiction as the name spelt as Worme or Worm is recorded in London in the mid 16th Century and a Coat of Arms is recorded as being granted to Worme of Northampton in 1583. In the plural spelling as Worms, the name does not appear to be recorded before the first half of the 18th Century, suggesting that the name may be a patronymic, as "son of Worm". If this is the case, the name is Ancient British, and derives from "gwrm" or "uurm", meaning a dark stream as in Worm Brook in Herefordshire. To add to the confusion, the Continental records of heraldry record a Coat of Arms granted to "de Worms" of London, circa 1750. The recordings include: Mary Worms, who married Henry Cole at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, on July 15th 1781, and Lailie Worms, who married Mary Thornecraft at St. Clement Danes, on June 4th 1827. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Michael Worms, which was dated November 1st 1735, a christening witness at St. Luke's, Finsbury, London, during the reign of King George 11, known as "The Last Soldier King", 1727 - 1760. 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.