Damant

This is a surprisingly difficult and interesting surname to research. It appears to be of French Huguenot origins, and in the case of some nameholders, this will be true; however, it is equally possible that for others the derivation is from the Olde English. In the latter case it is occupational and a variant form of "Dayman", a Middle English description for a cattleman, one Richard le Deyman being recorded in Staffordshire in the 1332 Rolls. As regards the French option, the derivation is from de Mont, de Mant or Doment, as the name is variously recorded in the Huguenot Church Registers, specifically that of the Threadneedle Street Chapel, in the years between 1580 and 1790. Examples of the recordings include: Marie Doment, who was christened at Threadneedle Street, on May 5th 1684; Pierre Dement, a witness on July 10th 1702; and Henry Dammant, who was married at All Hallows Church, London Wall, on February 23rd 1687. Guybon Damant was married at St. Andrew's, Holborn, on July 10th 1816, whilst John Joseph D'Amant was married at the famous church of St. Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, on June 1st 1834, in the reign of William 1V (1830 - 1837). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Diamant, which was dated May 3rd 1584, marriage to Em Simpson, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London, 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.