Launder

Recorded in the spellings of Launder, Lander, Landor, Lavender, Larnder, and the patronymic Landers, this is an English surname. It is occupational and job descriptive for an official who superintended the laundry usually to a royal or noble household or perhaps a monastery. This person was in effect the steward of the linen, being responsible for the washing, repair, and renewal of soft furnishings. The history of the city of York written in 1785, but referring to a period in the Middle Ages about the year 1300 states that 'David le Lardiner holds one serjeantry and keeper of the Forest Gaol, and is also seizer of cattle which are taken for indebtedness to the king'. Not quite so wealthy was but clearly of status was Beatrice Ap Rice, laundress to the future Queen Mary 1st of England in 1550. She was always referred to as Mistress Launder in the registers. Occupational surnames were amongst the first to be created, but the did not usually become hereditary until a son or perhaps a daughter with some occupations, followed the father into the same line of business. In this case the early development and recording taken from surviving registers includes Jon Lardner who married Hannah Moore in London in 1693, whilst in 1701, John Lardner (Apothecary) was baptised at St. Dionis Backchurch, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ywon Le Lardaner. which was dated 1289, in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. during the reign of King Edward 1, known as 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.