Plumbridge

This interesting surname is a locational name from one of the estimated seven to ten thousand villages and hamlets that have now disappeared from the maps in Britain. The prime cause of these "disappearances" was the enforced "clearing" and dispersal of the former inhabitants to make way for sheep pastures at the height of the wool trade in the 17th Century. Natural causes such as the Black Death of 1348 also contributed to the lost village phenomenon. The original place Plumridge, derives from the old English pre 7th Century "plume" meaning both "plum" and "plum-tree" plus "hrycg" "ridge". Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Plomridge, Plumbridge, Plumridege, etc.. One Anne, daughter of John Plomridge, was christened on February 26th 1569 at St. Stephen Coleman street, London and Margarett, daughter of John Plumridge was christened on October 22nd 1581. Susan Plumbridge was christened on January 26th 1583 at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Plumrydge married Elizabeth Pawme, which was dated 1566, St. Stephen Coleman street, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "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.