Pask

recorded in several forms as shown below, this unusual and interesting name is of Old French origins. Introduced into England by the Norman-French after the famous Conquest of 1066, it derives from the words pasche or pasque, meaning Easter. In the context of a surname these were used as a nickname for someone who was born at Easter, or who had a connection with Easter, such as owing a feudal obligation at that time. This could have been payment of rent, but more likely was in connection with giving labour perhaps for repairing the roads, ploughing, or some other agricultural activity. Nicknames, from which developed later surnames, were very popular in medieval times. It is estimated that at least 15% of all surnames, some researchers say many more, were originally nicknames. The modern surname forms are known to include Pash, Pashe, Paish, Pask, Paske and Pasque. Early examples of the surname include Joseph Pach of Cambridgeshire in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, Felic Pasch in the same rolls in 1279, Walter Passh of Worcestershire in 1327; and Robertus Pache in the Poll Tax returns for Yorkshire in 1379. Recordings from surviving church registers include the christening of John Pash, at St. Botolph's church, Colchester, in Essex, on November 24th 1566, and the marriage of William Pask and Frances Broade, on June 29th 1640, at Duntisborne Abbots, Gloucestershire. The coat of arms most associated with the name is quarterly, silver and black; in the second and third quarters three silver fleur-de-lis in pale. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Paske. This was dated 1253, in the Chartulary of Oseney Abbey, Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111rd of England, 1216 - 1272. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.