Pascow

This unusual name is one of the Cornish forms of the medieval personal name "Pascal" or its nickname from "Pask" and is found in the modern variants of "Pascho", "Pacoe" and "Pascow". The personal name "Pascal(l)" was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066 as "Pascal", derived from the Latin "Paschalis" from "Pascha", Easter and was a popular name in Medieval Europe, given mainly in honour of the religious festival of Easter. The nickname "Pask" was used of someone born at Easter or because of some other connection with that time, such as owing a feudal obligation. It is derived from the Middle English word for Easter, "Paske". Margaret Pascho, daughter of Richard was christened on the 27th February 1602 at Veryan in Cornwall. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon Pascoe, which was dated 1372, in the "Court Rolls of the Borough of Clochester", Essex, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.