Edwicker

This unusual and interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a variant spelling of the name Edicker, which derives either from the Old English pre 7th Century "Eadwacer", a personal name that translates as prosperity watchman, or "eadwacer", meaning a watchman of property. In the latter instance this would become an occupational name. This is a late name recorded first as a given name, rather than a surname which is not recorded before the late 13th Century, from example Edwacre, (1066 Hampshire), Eduuacher (1111 - 1138), Edwaker, (1200 feet of Fines, Kent), Godwinces filius (son of) Edwacher, (1135, Oxfordshire). Recordings of the name Edwicker are extremely rare, and are confined to Sussex, for example, one Harriot Edwicker married James Saunders on October 13th 1814 at Hodsworth, Sussex. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Edwaker, which was dated 1279, Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, "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.