Dominy

This interesting and uncommon surname, with variant forms ranging from Domney, Domoney, and Domminey to Domini and Domen(e)y, is a diminutive, pet form of the French medieval given name "Dominique", itself from the Latin "dominicus", of the lord (from the Latin "Dominus", Lord, master) or "dies dominica", meaning "day of the Lord" (given to somebody born on Sunday). The name, which is quite rare in England, owes its popularity to the Spanish Saint, St. Dominic, who founded the Dominican order of monks. Early recordings of the personal name, from which the surname derived, include a Dominicus de Buketon, recorded in the "Fines Rolls" in 1346, and one Domenyk Euan, who was listed in the "Close Rolls" in 1456. The surname from this source is recorded in London and Kent Church Registers from the 17th Century on, in a variety of forms: Mary Dominy and John Waller were married at All Hallows, London Wall, on December 26th 1655; Walter Domini married Jane Galley at St. James', Dukes Place, London, on July 21st 1667; and Richard, son of Richard and Elizabeth Dominey, was christened at the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Dover, on April 11th 1697. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Margery Dominy, which was dated November 19th 1627, marriage to Edward Page, at St. Laurence's, Thanet, Kent, during the reign of King Charles 1, known as "The Martyr", 1625 - 1649. 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.