Pedgrift

This is a surname which has almost unbelievably, changed spelling between the birth of the first and second child. The origination is probably Cornish, the 'modern' surname being a dialectual transposition of the surname Pedrick, itself a developed form of the 7th Century St. Petrock. The earliest recording as shown was as Pedgrift, (1720) and yet the second son Soloman, christened at St. Dunstans Church, Stepney is registered as 'Pedgrift' and thereafter the 'London' spelling always appears in this form. Mary Pedgrift, believed to be Solomans daughter is recorded as marrying James Bower at St. James, Westminster on September 15th 1766. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Pedgriff, (christened), which was dated 1720, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Pedgrift of London, during the reign of King George I, 'Hanover George', 1715 - 1727. 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.