Lusk

This unusual and interesting name is of west country Anglo-Saxon or Celtic origin, and can be either a topographical or a locational surname. If topographical, the name denotes residence near, or possibly employment at, a piggery, the derivation being from the Olde English pre 7th Century word 'Llose', pigsty. If locational, the surname derives from some small place named with this element, as in Luscombe in Devonshire named with 'Llose', as before, with 'cumb', valley. Elysebeth, daughter of Barthelome Luske, was christened on the 16th June 1598 at Totnes, in Devon, while one Joshua Lusk was married to Mary Singleton on the 31st May 1698 at St. James', Dukes Place, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Luske, christened, which was dated 3rd June 1582, Menheniot, Cornwall, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. 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.