Narbett

This interesting surname with variant spellings Narbitt, Narbott, Narbett, Narberth, etc., is a locational name from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, composed of the Old English pre 7th Century "nearu" meaning "narrow" plus the Welsh "buarth" "fold", hence "narrow fold". The surname dates back to the mid 17th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Richard Narbett who married Elizabeth Stevens on August 5th 1682 at St. James, Dukes Place, London, and John, son of Richard and Ann Narbott, was christened on July 3rd 1692 at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. Thomas, son of William and Elizabeth Nerbitt, was christened on August 21st 1832, at St. John the Evangelist, London, and William, son of Thomas and Mary Narberth, was christened on May 25th 1854, at North Glamorgan, Wales. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Narbett married Sarah Godwin, which was dated 1645, St. James, Clerkenwell, London, during the reign of King Charles 1, the "Martyr", 1625 - 1649. 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.