Churchouse

This interesting name is of Medieval English origin, and is an occupational surname for someone who was employed as the caretaker of the 'church - house', or possibly for someone who lived in the church-house. Originally the term 'church-house' was used to indicate the parsonage, but gradually it came to apply to the house adjoining the church where refreshments were served during weddings, christenings, or funerals, something like the parish hall of today. The name derives from the Middle English 'church', church, from Old English pre 7th Century 'cyrice', with 'house', from 'hus', house. The modern surname from this source can be found as Churchouse, Churchus, Churchers and Churches. One Martha Churchouse was married to John Cluff on June 3rd 1686 at St. Mary's, Marylebone, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ino de Cherchous, which was dated 1327, The Suffolk Subsidy Rolls, during the reign of King Edward 111, 'The Father of the Navy', 1327 - 1377. 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.