Megson

Recorded as Meggs, Megson and Meggison, this is an early medieval English surname. It is one of the group of modern surnames classed as "metronymics", where the original surname derived from the name of the first bearer's mother. The vast majority of similar surnames being patronymics, that is, through the male side. It means the "son of Megg", itself a short form of "Margaret", a very popular name in the Middle Ages and one which generated a wide variety of surnames. The ultimate origin of Margaret is believed to be Persian, borrowed into Greek and Latin as "Margarita", meaning " pearl". The name was borne by several early Christian saints which helped to spread its popularity. Other metronymics from this source include Maggs, Magson, Moxson, Moxon, Moxham and Moxsom. Early examples of the surname recordings taken from surviving charters and early church registers include: Robert Meggoson of Yorkshire, in the Poll Tax rolls of 1379, and the christening of Ann Megson at St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney, city of London, on February 22nd 1594. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Meggesone. This was dated 1332, in the Tax Subsidy rolls of the county of Cumberland, during the reign of King Edward 111rd of England, 1327 - 1377. 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.