Eastbury

This interesting medieval English name is a locational name from places so called in Berkshire and Worcestershire. The placename in Berkshire is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Charters, circa 1066 as 'Eastbury', in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1165 it appears as 'Estberi', and in the Feet of Fines in 1208 as 'Estbir', and it is clear from these records that the name derives from the Old English 'east', east with 'byrig', fort or town thus eastern burg. However Eastbury in Worcestershire is a derivation of a personal name (of unknown origin) 'Eanhere' with 'byrig', an is found in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Eresbyrie'. Hannah Eastbury married Richard Rouse on July 28th 1777 at Blockley, Worcestershire. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Annis Eastburie, which was dated 13th May 1620, St. Brides, Fleet Street, London. during the reign of King James I of England and Scotland, 1603 - 1625. 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.