Cuerdale

This unusual surname is of combined Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse origin, and is a locational name from the parish of Cuerdale on the river Ribble, east of Preston in Lancashire. Recorded as "Kiuerdale", circa 1190 in Early Lancashire Charters, and as "Keuerdale" in the Lancashire Inquests, dated 1293, the place was so called from the Olde English pre 7th male given name "Cynferth", plus the Old Norse "dalr", cognate with the Olde English "dael", valley. Names ending in "-dale" are most frequent in the old Scandinavian districts, and most contain the Old Norse "dalr", Old Danish "dal", valley. The above personal name, pronounced "Kyen-ferth", eventually lost the internal "n" (a common occurrence before an "f"), and was pronounced "Kyferth", eventually becoming "Kiver" or "Kiuer", the interchange of "v" and "u" being widespread in early recordings. Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their birthplace to settle elsewhere. In the modern idiom the name is variously spelt: Curedale, Cuerdale, Cuardall, Cur(e)dell and Cuerdall. On February 6th 1774, Edward Curedale, an infant, was christened at St. Peter's, Bolton, Lancashire. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a shield divided quarterly silver and black, with four leopards' faces counterchanged. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Cuerdall, which was dated September 21st 1594, marriage to Luce Catherall, at Brindle, Lancashire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.