Howsego

Recorded in a number of spellings including Housego, Howsego, and Housegoe, this is an English surname. It is almost certainly an anglicized form of the pre 7th century Olde Frisian word "huisinga", a term which referred to a houseowner as opposed to a tenant. In medieval times the majority of the population lived in cottages rather than houses, and it is probable that this surname indicates someone who had connections with the local "great house", the most important building in the town or village. The earliest recorded cognate is that of Simon Hus of Oxford in the year 1226. Later recordings taken from the surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London, include such examples as: Thomas Housegoe, who married Anne Townsend at St. Stephan's church, Coleman Street, on October 26th 1649, and Alexander Housego, who was christened at St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney, on December 7th 1766. The first recorded spelling of the family name may be that of Robert Howshegoo who married Joane Myston at St. Giles Cripplegate, on September 22nd 1562, in the city of London. This was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.