Lesmonde

This is a French Huguenot name of which there are many recorded variant spellings including Lamond, Lamont, Lament, Lemont, Lamande, Lemmond, Lamende, Lamonte, Le mond, Lesmond, Lesmonde, Loemant, L'amant, Laumont and the originator of them all Tout-le-Monde', first recorded in the early 17th Century and disappearing into the shortened 'English' versions after 1714, when Jean Toutlemonde was christened at Threadneedle Street, Huguenot Church, London. The name is clearly a nickname and probably identified a Traveller or Pilgrim - one who had visited many places - 'A man of the world'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elie Tout - Le - Monde, which was dated 1605, Baptised at Threadneedle Street, London, during the reign of King James I of England and VI of Scotland 1605 - 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.