Curme

This interesting and unusual name is probably a topographic name from the Old French word "corme", a service tree, a tree which is cultivated for it's white flowers and brown edible apple-like fruits, found in the early modern English language as "corm(e), hence the name may denote a person who grew these trees or lived by them. The name may have arrived in England relatively late as it first appears in records in the mid 16th Century, (see below). Agnes Estis married William Corne on July 19th 1579, at St. Dunstan, Stepney, London. Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary Curme was christened at St. Andrews, Holborn in London on September 1st 1755, while a son Thomas was christened there on August 15th 1757. The same Mary Curme is believed to have married Charles Lang at St. Martin in the Fields Westminster, London on February 9th 1779. Robert Curme married Rebecca Barber at St. Anne Soho, London on March 12th 1793. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Corme, which was dated April 8th 1549, was baptised at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, during the reign of King Edward V1, known as "The Boy King", 1547 - 1553. 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.