Miskimmon

There are a number of alternative spellings of this Olde Ulster name and these include McSkimmen, McSmiminy, Miskimmon, Miskimmin, Miskimin etc., all have the same origins. However there lies the difficulty because the origins are obscure and lie far back in Irish history but the belief is that the name translates as "the son of Coimin" with "Coimin", being an early personal name which itself means "the Pasture". This in itself is unusual as very few Irish names have any form of habitational base, unlike English names. The name recordings include Mary Miskimmon, christened at Carnmoney, Antrim on August 23rd, 1818 whilst David Miskimmon was recorded at Raffrey, Co. Down on August 4th 1857. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of David Meskimen, which was dated 1732, Baptised at Carrickfergus, Antrim, during the reign of King George II, "The Last Warrior King", 1727 - 1760. 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.