Scandrite

This very unusual name is also recorded as Scandrick, Scandred, Scanderet, Scanderoot, Scanderite and Scandwright, and the variety of spellings is a clue to the origin. It is an anglicized form of the Venetian "Scandoler" and the Syracusian "Scandurott", themselves a developed form of the Latin "Scando" meaning "to climb". This does not however refer to a mountaineer, but was a term used to describe soldiers who lead the assault in the times of Siege Warfare. From time to time Venetian forces were employed as mercenaries under British control and this may be the origin of the first name holders. Examples of the recordings include Christopher Scanderet who married Jane Bichnell at Kidlington, Oxford on April 23rd 1654, and Elinor Skandrite of Worcester on January 13th 1708. On December 11th 1763, William Scandrett was recorded as marrying Margaret Reiley at St. Anne's Soho, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wilhelmus Scandret, which was dated July 17th 1586, christened at Aston Bottrell, Shropshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "The Virgin Queen", 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.