Flook

This interesting and unusual surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Floki", which was originally a byname meaning outspoken or enterprising; the name may have been given to a latter-day entrepreneur. This is one of the many Scandinavian names to have survived into modern surnames; other such names are Lawman, from the Old Danish "Lag(h)man", Coleman, from "Kalman", Swain, from "Sueinn", and Drummond, from "Dromundr". The name development since 1609 (see below) includes the following: Joseph Floox (1694, London); Joseph Flukes (1787, London); John Flooks (1797, London); and Charles Fluck (1829, London). The modern surname can be found as Flook, Fluck and Flux. Among the recordings from London Church Registers are the marriage of John Flook and Anne Runacres on July 23rd 1749, at St. George's, Mayfair, Westminster, and the christening of George, son of Job and Ann Flook, on January 28th 1838, at St. Mary's Whitechapel Stepney, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes Flooke, which was dated November 24th 1609, marriage to William Huffe, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London, during the reign of King James 1 of England and V1 of 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.