Runnett

We believe that this name is an anglicized variant spelling of the Picardy and Artois name 'Rune' - recorded heraldically and believed to be Huguenot. The name is also believed to mean 'the soldier' and is a development from 'Rue', and refers to the medieval practice of recruiting soldiers 'in the street', known in England as 'taking the King's shilling'. The Coat of Arms is the St. Andrews cross of blue on white in saltire with a black eagle in each quarter. Over a hundred thousand Huguenots fled to England and Ireland after 1685, and the transposition of spelling often makes for difficult research. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes Rune which was dated C. 1680 Baizieux Picardy, France. during the reign of King Louis XIV The Sun King 1643-1715 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.