Gye

This interesting name derives from a French form of a Germanic personal name "wido" a Saxon pre 7th Century word meaning "The lively one". It appeared in England, after the Norman Conquest of 1066, as an name for one who guides, derived from the Olde French Guier, meaning to guide. The name remained popular until disgraced by Guy Fawkes in 1605, and has never recovered its popularity. One of the earliest settlers in America was one, William Guy, aged 18 years, who on 2nd January 1634, boarded the vessel 'Bonaventure' in the Port of London, bound for Virginia. On 18th February 1647, Ann, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Guy, was christened at West Dean, Chichester, Sussex. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Willelmus Filius Guidouis, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book, during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. 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.