Dell

This very unusual name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a topographical name given in the first instance to someone who lived in a dell, or small valley. The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century term "dell", a dell, deep hollow or vale, which is also found in placenames such as Arundel in Sussex, "hoarhound valley". Topographical names were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided convenient and easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages. The modern surname from this source can be found as Dell, Delle, Della, Deller and Dellar. Recordings of the name from London Church Registers include the christening of Edward, son of Henrie and Elizabeth Dellar, on September 7th 1617, at St. Botolph without Aldgate, and the marriage of Thomas Dellar and Suzan Carter, at St. Michael Queenhithe, on August 27th 1657. The Coat of Arms most associated with the name is silver, a lion rampant black debruised by a saltire red. The Crest is a hand erect issuing from a cloud, holding a garb. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Dellere, which was dated 1275, in the "Hundred Rolls of Norfolk", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.