Conyer

This interesting and unusual name is of Anglo/Norman/French origin and is an occupational surname for a "minter" a coiner of money. The derivation is from the Old French "coignier", meaning "to stamp money, to mint", in Middle English "coin" and "coiner", ultimately derived from the Latin "Cuneus", a wedge, and used earlier to mean the die used to stamp money. There is also some indication that the name was applied as a nickname for someone trifty and careful with money. The name development has included "Jane Coniar" (1564, London), "Alice connier" (1584, ibid.) and "George Connyer" (1610, ibib). The marriage of Jeremiah Conyer and Barbra Allison was recorded on the 6th March 1683 at St. James', Dukes Place, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John le Conyare, which was dated 1327, The Sussex Subsidy Rolls, during the reign of King Edward II, Edward of Caernafon, 1307 - 1327. 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.