Gustus

This interesting and unusual surname derives from "Gus" a medieval pet form of "Augustus", majesty, and which was the name given to Julius Caesar's great nephew Octavius, and subsequently became the official designation of every Roman Emperor, plus the diminutive suffix "-in". The root name was never given as a personal name until 1526 and then became general as "August" pronounced "ow-goost" and spread through Germany to France as "Auguste". The name was introduced into England by the Hanoverians in the 18th Century. Other pet forms of the name are Gussie, Gustus and Augie. Mary, daughter of Robert and Barbery Gushin, was christened on June 18th 1665, at St. Olave's, Southwark, London, while at St. James', Duke's Place, London, Anne Guison married Edmond Jones on February 15th 1681. There is also evidence to suggest some French influence as Pierre, son of Pierre and Marie Guison, French Huguenots (probably fleeing religious persecution in France) was christened at Threadneedle Street, London, on September 11th 1687. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ann Guison, which was dated December 18th 1623, marriage to Edmond Brett, in London, during the reign of King Charles 1, known as "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.