Ollcott

This is an unusual spelling of an Olde English pre 7th century topographical and locational name. As Aldcott, Oldcote, Oldcott, Ouldcott, and Ollcott, the name derives either from a place of residence, the dweller at the old cottage, or from the village of Oldcoates in Nottingham, which has the same meaning. This place name was first recorded as 'Ulecotes' in 1199 in the reign of the famous King Richard 1st, known as 'The Lionheart', and almost as equally well known for his disagreements, or so it is claimed, with the infamous Sheriff of Nottingham, and later in 1232 as Ulecote. Residential surnames were amongst the earliest of all names, originally they distinguished the local lord of the manor but later they became more general, particulary after the medieval period when movement of people to find employment elsewhere, became more general. When this happened, people were often given the name of their original village, by their new neighbours or employers as easy identification. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Mary Oldcote, which was dated 1607, Baptised at St. Mary Magdalene, London, during the reign of King James 1, of England and V1 of Scotland, 1587 - 1625, 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.