Marchment

This interesting and unusual name is of medieval English origin and has two possible sources, the first being that it is a topographical name for a dweller by the borders, or county bounds, deriving from the Anglo-Norman-French word, "marche", a boundary. There is a prevalence of this name in the counties of Berkshire, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, which all share a common border. However, Marchment may also be an occupational name for a person employed to guard, or in some way tend, the boundaries, probably referring to large Manor Farms, and known as march men, with the same derivation as above. This term is now obsolete. In the early records in London is the marriage of Thomas Marchment and Eliza Saffern on October 18th 1675 at St. Mary's Marylebone. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joseph Marchment (christening), which was dated August 4th 1661, Upavon, Wiltshire, during the reign of King Charles 11, "The Merry Monarch", 1660 - 1685. 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.