Lotwich

This most interesting and unusual surname is of English habitational origin from "Lutwyche", a place in Shropshire, nine miles from Ludlow, which was recorded "Loteis" in the Domesday Book of 1086 and "Lotwych" in the Assize Court Rolls of 1292. The placename is composed of the initial Olde English element "lot", identical with the Dutch "loete" and the Low German "lote", meaning a shovel used to remove mud from ditches and canals, and the second Olde English element "wic", an outlying village. The surname, which is also found as "Lutwidge", and which is widespread in the English West Midlands, first appears in records in the late 13th Century, (see below). One William de Lotwich was recorded in 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Salop. Interesting namebearers include Sir Edward Lutwyche (deceased 1709) who became a barrister at Gray's Inn in 1661, made King's serjeant in 1684 and was knighted in the same year, later appointed judge of the common pleas 1686; and his son Thomas (1675-1734) educated at Oxford also becoming a barrister as well as M.P. for Appleby 1710-1715, Callington 1722-1727 and Agmondesham 1728-1734. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry de Lotwich which was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Salop (Shropshire), during the reign of King Edward 1st, 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.