Regardsoe

This interesting surname is derived from the Italian 'Regard of Savoy', a name recorded in Riestapps Armorial General for the Continent. The name originally derives from the Latin (Roman) 'Regero' meaning 'to carry or bring back' and is a job descriptive word for a messenger or carrier. Surprisingly the name is not recorded in the American Directory of Surnames which suggests that it is extremely rare. The Coat of Arms is a gold Orb on a blue field. The London parish records include one Andrew Regartsoe who married Mary Hogain on January 1st 1797 at St. Clement Danes, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Regard du Savoie, which was dated circa 1680, The Holy Roman Empire, during the reign of Emperor Leopold 1, 1668 - 1705. 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.