De Malchar

Tere is some confusion in regard to this interesting surname. That as 'De Malchar' it is of French origin would seem to be correct, however it is possible that we have a 'reverse' situation in that a name originally English, has also developed a French identity. We consider that the derivation is from the Olde English 'mealter', an occupational name for a malter or maltster, a brewer of beer and ale. However it is also possible that the name as 'De Malchar' could be a derivation of 'malperre' which translates as poor ground. The examples of the name recording both in France and England include - Anne de Malcher, daughter of Didier and Marie, christened at Gerbeviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, on February 7th 1636, Claude Malchere, a witness at Seranville, Meurthe-et-Moselle on January 11th 1691, and Robart Malchar, who married Ann Slaney at St Martin Orgar, London, on April 16 1592. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Aleyn Le Maltestere, which was dated 1379, in the Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Richard 11, known as 'Richard of Bordeaux', 1377 - 1399. 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.