Parsell

This interesting name with variant spellings Parcall, Parsall and Parsell, derives from the Old French "parcelle" meaning a division of land, especially a section attached to a manor or estate, which constituted one unit for tax registration purposes. The name "Parcell(e)" was therefore occupational for a tenant who tended such division of land for his overlord, or perhaps, in some instances, the term was bestowed as a type of "Status" nickname on one who owned a parcel of land. The surname is particularly well recorded in London Church Registers from the late 16th Century, (see below). On January 14th 1598, John Parsall, an infant was christened in St. Dunstans, Stepney and on March 16th 1615 Anne, daughter of William Parsell, was christened in St. Botolph's without Aldgate. On November 17th 1617 Alice Parcell and William Atkinson were married in Ealing and on December 25th 1706 Robert, son of Robert and Ann Parcell, was christened in Litlington, Cambridgeshire. The marriage of John Parsell and Mary Capell was recorded on January 30th 1675, at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Parcall, christened, which was dated February 1591 in St. Margaret's Westminster, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.