Mammatt

This rare and interesting name is of French origin and is an Anglicization of a locational name Mamett, from a place called Mametz in France. Mametz translates as 'Mamo's Farm', and is a patronymic, diminutive or pet form ('son of' or 'little') of the French personal name Mammes, the name of an obscure 3rd Century saint. It is thought that this diminutive Mame is a form of the Hebrew female given name Mary, and is in modern usage, along with Molly, Polly, Mininie, Mainie and May, in countries other than France. It is likely that the name was introduced into Britain after the Norman Conquest of 1066, although the earliest recording as a surname is early 17th Century (see below). Charles Mammatt married Catherine Stanley on July 26th 1824, at St. Ann's, Soho, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Charles Mumit (marriage to Elizabeth Mankill), which was dated September 4th 1605, St. Margaret's, Westminster, during the reign of King James 1 of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603-1625. 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.