Oels

This most interesting and unusual surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, is a late variant of "Hole" which was first recorded in the early 13th Century and derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century word "holh", hole, hollow, depression, with the genitive "-s" ending, and was a topographical name given to someone who lived in or by a depression or low-lying spot. Alternatively, though less likely, it may derive from "Owles", a nickname for a particularly wise or thoughtful man who gave good counsel, from the Olde English word "ule", owl. The surname first appears in the early 13th Century (see below) and one Alice Atte Hole was recorded in the Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland in 1279. Further early examples of the name include George Holle who married Alice Williams at Heston, London on June 13th 1563; Ellis Hole christened at St. Nicholas, Cole Abbey, London on June 6th 1574; and Elizabeth Hoel, who married Edward Harvey at St. Mary Magdalene, Old Fish Street, London on October 12th 1677. Frederick William Louis, son of Frederick William and Anne Oels, was christened on April 11th 1875 at the church of St. Luke, Westminster, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de la Hole, which was dated 1200, in the "Pipe Rolls of Devonshire", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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.